Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, in partnership with the Sustainability Institute, strives to promote healthy and resilient communities to create a sustainable future for our student athletes and fans.
We seek to support student leadership in sustainability, reduce the environmental impact of our facilities and events, be a role model for socially responsible behavior, and amplify community sustainability efforts.
We seek to support student leadership in sustainability, reduce the environmental impact of our facilities and events, be a role model for socially responsible behavior, and amplify community sustainability efforts.
What Are We Doing?
Tailgate Ambassadors
The Tailgate Ambassador program is a partnership between Intercollegiate Athletics, the office of Physical Plant, and administered by the Sustainability Institute. These students welcome fans on gameday, serve as ambassadors to enhance fans' tailgate experience while promoting environmentally responsible tailgating practices in the lots surrounding Beaver Stadium.
Zero-Waste Presidents Box
The program began in 2013 when Judd Michael, received a grant from the Sustainability Institute Reinvention Fund program to make Penn State’s Intercollegiate Athletics more sustainable. At each home football game, student volunteers from the EcoReps program educate guests, promote sustainable behavior, and help guests properly dispose of their waste. Since the creation of this program, the President’s Box has achieved the status of zero-waste.
College Gameday
ESPN has chosen to host their Emmy award-winning College Gameday show at Penn State as one of the most electric gameday environments in college football. Partnering with College Gameday staff, Tailgate Ambassadors, Judd Michael and the office of Physical Plant came together to install recycling bin infrastructure, deploy additional ambassadors, and develop a food-recovery effort to donate food to local shelters.
In the News:
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Penn State, Lightsource BP break ground on largest solar project in Pennsylvania
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - On Sept. 6, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf joined Penn State President Eric J. Barron at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 70-megawatt, utility-scale solar project that will provide 25% of Penn State’s purchased electricity over the next 25 years. The project, a partnership between Penn State and Lightsource BP, will advance energy security and sustainability goals for the University and the commonwealth.
Be a part of the team!
- Support our efforts to keep a clean and healthy campus environment by:
- Putting your waste in a trash or recycling bin – not on the ground!
- Taking active or public transportation or carpooling to the game and limiting idling!
- Respecting everyone’s enjoyment of our events!
- To learn more about Sustainability at Penn State click here, and in Centre County click here.
- Attend a sustainability-themed event. View calendar here.
More Information