Appalachian student team aims for third $75,000 EPA award
by Josh Jarman, Intern, College of Fine and Applied Arts
A team of Appalachian students in the Department of Technology are busy preparing to submit a project in hopes of winning a third “Phase 2” award in this year’s Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) People, Prosperity, and Planet (P3) awards.
The Boone Bike Initiative, this year’s “Phase 1” accepted effort, is a community-based project to promote commuting on bicycles. Led by Appropriate Technology major Alan Watts, the team’s goal is to lobby for bike-friendly policies, more pro bike signage in the area and to coordinate a bike-loan program. The team maintains a bike shop in the basement of the Turchin Center which is open to the community to rent a bike or have one tuned up.
“I am pleased that our nation’s future leaders are answering President Bush’s call to deliver environmental and economic results by expanding technology and innovation,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in regards to P3.
The EPA P3 award is a competitive student grant for student teams. Teams start with an idea and submit a proposal to EPA’s Office of Research and Development. Each year approximately 40 proposals are accepted for “Phase 1” funding of $10,000. The following year those teams travel to Washington D.C. where they set up displays on the mall in front of the Washington Monument as part of the EPA’s National Sustainable Design Expo. Judges at the Expo will select six teams for “Phase 2” funding of $75,000.
Appalachian teams have enjoyed success winning “Phase 1” funding the past three years and “Phase 2” funding the past two years. The first Phase 2-winning project was a Collaborative Biodiesel effort and the second was an Affordable Bioshelters project.
“These student teams have truly accomplished great things. They are passionate, hard working and resourceful, “said Brian Raichle, assistant professor of Appropriate Technology. “These teams learn how to manage budgets and work within the system. These are lessons that faculty cannot teach in a classroom. It’s great to see Appalachian State competing with and beating Duke, MIT and Stanford.”
The team will be judged for the “Phase 2” grant at the National Sustainable Design Expo April 20-22 in Washington D.C.