Illustration by Estefania B. Alonso
Students for Environmental Awareness plan Earth Day activities.
By Hillary E. Ratcliff
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Environmental science sophomore Megan Kendrick said she hated watching the land near her home in Spring Branch be torn up for another Wal-Mart Supercenter.
So Kendrick asked herself, “What can I do to make a difference in the environment?”
At this campus, Students for Environmental Awareness is a trying to make a difference.
The group, naturally meets, at the Sinkin EcoCentro.
EcoCentro was named after San Antonio’s biggest advocate for solar powered buildings, William R. “Bill” Sinkin, who passed away in 2014.
Sinkin was involved until his last moment; working to ensure EcoCentro would be the spot for nature’s difference makers.
More than two years since its opening on Earth Day, April, 22, 2014, EcoCentro is a center not only for this college’s students, but for the community.
The community garden is a growing work space filled with ideas, projects and the labor of both members of SEA, students and locals.
The space is open to anyone who wants to learn gardening techniques from Director of Service Steven Lewis or Julie Cornelius, continuing education program coordinator.
This semester, SEA has been taking strides to increase the presence of recycling on this campus.
At the beginning of the semester, students took a rusted outdoor trash can to be restored to a recyclable bin.
They spent hours and days removing rust and painting. The blue trash can now sits as a prototype outside EcoCentro.
Lisa Cervantes, SEA president and environmental science sophomore, and several others met with the Alamo College Sustainability Committee and President Robert Vela about more receptacles for recycling.
The committee is open to more recycling on campus, but there are some road blocks.
There is a cost issue, because new developments take the time and labor to implement, as well as maintain the receptacles once placed on campus.
Until the bins are approved, Cervantes said they just have to constantly address the issue with the committee and President Vela.
SEA continues to make progress on the hydroponic watering system it began in February.
The watering system will be presented during the ReEnergize Conference April 22 to fellow college environmental groups and the community.
SEA will participate in Earth Week, PAC Fest April 21 and King William’s Fair April 23.
Cervantes said she knows the recycling presence will be stronger at this year’s parade since they were at the event last year.
The groups involvement during Fiesta is part of Fiesta Verde, a movement to make this spring’s festivities a greener celebration.
The group also reaches out to younger generations through the Boy Scouts of America.
For more information about EcoCentro, call 210-486-0417.
Earth Week events
April 18
Every Day is Earth Day Festival presented by student life 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the mall
Tour 1-2 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
Build your own rain barrel workshop 2-3 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
April 19
Hot and cold composting demonstrations 2-3 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
Tour 4-5 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
Sierra Club meeting 6:30-8 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
April 20
FunFest with aguas frescas fundraisers 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the mall
April 21
Native plants for water conservation 2-3 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
Tour 4-5 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
PACFest with volunteer recycling team 6-10 p.m. at Palo Alto
April 22
Re-Energize renewable energy conference 9:30 a.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
EcoExchangeEdu environmental sustainability conference 2-5 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
Corona Visions/Electronics Recycling 2-5 p.m. at Sinkin EcoCentro
April 23
King William’s Fair and Parade with volunteer recycling 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in the King William District
Email SEAchangeinSA@gmail.com
