OSU’s Net Impact chapter leading Small Steps Big Wins Campus Challenge

Friday, November 15, 2013

Oklahoma State University’s Net Impact chapter is leading the nation in the Small Steps Big Wins Campus Challenge.

Net Impact, a sustainability organization, focuses on the impact of sustainability not only on the environment but also on society and business. Net Impact is an international organization represented by professional, graduate and undergraduate chapters. OSU has had an undergraduate chapter for a little more than a year and a half.

OSU’s Net Impact chapter, supported by the Department of Management in the Spears School of Business, promotes sustainability in various ways. The chapter helped install the hydration stations on campus and has held small recycling events. Currently its major focus is on the Small Steps Big Wins Campus Challenge.

Net Impact works hard to get OSU students to participate in the Small Steps Challenge. Students can take action by recycling, saving gas, conserving water or electricity and more.

Shelby Hansen, OSU’s Net Impact president, is passionate about the organization and believes it’s changing the world by encouraging sustainability.

“Promoting sustainability is about changing the social and environmental way of thinking to benefit the entire campus, community and world while also benefiting the bottom line through a new way of thinking,” Hansen said.

“Being a part of Net Impact is not simply a go green organization, it’s a group of change makers from around the world looking at all different types of problems and is ready to do work that isn't just making a profit. It’s making a difference, which is why I'm passionate about it as well as why I think others should join.”

The challenge for this semester ends on Dec. 1. OSU’s chapter is currently ranked first with more than 305,000 points. The OSU chapter has 693 members, 475 of which are taking action. It has taken 11,576 small actions towards becoming a more sustainable campus, raised $2,548 for nonprofit organizations and has reduced 35,668 pounds of carbon dioxide so far in the competition.

For more information about how you can get involved contact Shelby Hansen at 620-255-5882 or shelbph@ostatemail.okstate.edu.