OSU gives energy award money to staff scholarship fund
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis (center) receives the “Grand Finalist”
plaque from Vice President of Administration and Finance David Bosserman (left) and
Director of Physical Plant Rick Krysiak (right) for the university's energy conservation
program, which was named best practice by the Southern Association of College and
University Business Officers (SACUBO). Working with national conservation leader
Energy Education, OSU has saved more than $5 million in energy costs since summer
of 2007.
Oklahoma State University Vice President of Administration and Finance David Bosserman
(left) and OSU President Burns Hargis present Staff Faculty Advisory Council President
Tara Graham with a $1,500 check for the OSU staff scholarship fund. The university
won the grand prize of $1,500 for its energy conservation program, which was named
best practice by the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers
(SACUBO). Working with national conservation leader Energy Education, OSU has saved
more than $5 million in energy costs since summer of 2007.
The national best practice award is for the university’s energy conservation program. OSU Physical Plant Director Rick Krysiac was presented the $1,500 check and plaque during the SACUBO annual conference last week.
“We wanted to give the money back to the very people who helped make all this possible,” said Hargis. “There is no way this program would have had the success and savings it has had without our employees embracing our energy conservation practices.”
“This is a wonderful gesture from the OSU administration,” said Tara Graham, OSU Staff Advisory Council President. “Our scholarship fund has helped hundreds of OSU employees achieve their higher education goals. The council is very appreciative to President Hargis and Vice President David Bosserman for thinking of us.”
The program, which began in the summer of 2007, has saved the university more than $5 million to date. The energy conservation initiative is a result of OSU’s partnership with Energy Education. The national energy conservation company, based in Dallas and founded by OSU alum William Spears, has helped its clients save more than $1.5 billion.
Energy Education recently received the prestigious 2009 Energy Star Partner of the Year award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognizes organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.