Denver, CO, September 14, 2011 -- The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is pleased to announce that ARAMARK will sponsor the 2011 Student Summit held in conjunction with the AASHE 2011 Conference and Expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 9, 2011.
The goal of the summit, hosted by AASHE and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Campus Ecology Program, is to allow students to collaborate on sustainability projects taking place on their campuses, share best practices and learn about new and innovative initiatives, as well as give students an opportunity to develop solutions for sustainability on their campuses and in their regions. The event offers several "how to" workshops, networking time, and a free-for-all breakout session where students will break off into groups to discuss topics of their choice.
“ARAMARK is proud to continue our sponsorship of the Student Summit,” said Christopher Stemen, ARAMARK’s Associate Vice President of Sustainability. “It is a terrific opportunity for student leaders to collaborate and openly discuss important issues regarding sustainability, and develop innovative solutions for their campuses.”
The 2010 Student Summit was the largest AASHE conference in history with more than 500 registrants; however attendance is expected to hit over 700 participants this year. The growth is anticipated due in part to the opening keynote by Bill McKibben. McKibben is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 189 countries since 2009. Time Magazine called him 'the planet's best green journalist' and the Boston Globe said he was 'probably the country's most important environmentalist.'
In addition to the Student Summit, ARAMARK will be supporting the AASHE 2011 Conference & Expo. This three-day event is the largest North American conference focused on sustainability in higher education drawing over 2,500 participants. The annual conference has a reputation for providing the greatest campus sustainability information exchange and in-depth experience. The focus of the 2011 conference is creating sustainable campuses and communities and will include community service projects for both conference attendees and Student Summit participants. In addition to Bill McKibben, keynote speakers include Dr. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Laureate and Founder of the Green Belt Movement; Dr. Mitchell Thomashow, former president of Unity College; Leith Sharp, Executive Director, Illinois Green Economy Network; and well known environmentalist David Orr from Oberlin College.
“ARAMARK’s continual support of the Student Summit and AASHE is a testament to the company’s dedication to sustainability. They are a leader and helping shape the future of our institutions of higher education. We are so appreciative of their support and their commitment,” commented AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland.
For detailed information on the 2011 Student Summit please visit http://conf2011.aashe.org/program/aashe-student-summit
About Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. Our mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. We do this by providing resources, professional development, and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. More information about AASHE, including membership can be found at www.aashe.org . Detailed information on the AASHE 2011 Conference & Expo can be found at http://conf2011.aashe.org/. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.
About ARAMARK Higher Education
ARAMARK Higher Education is dedicated to excellence in dining, facility, conference center, and stadium and arena services. ARAMARK enhances the living and learning experience and environment for more than 600 colleges and universities throughout North America. For more information and a list of our services, visit www.aramarkhighered.com.
About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.
Contacts:
AASHE, Executive Director
Paul Rowland
303-605-3534
press@aashe.org
ARAMARK
Kelly Banaszak
215-238-3559
Banaszak-kelly@aramark.com