Recognitions

2010
Messiah College is among 286 other colleges and universities nationwide named to the Princeton Review’s and U.S. Green Building Council’s "Guide to 286 Green Colleges." The schools included in the guide are profiled for demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and holistic living.
 
Renewal, a student-led movement working on Christian campuses to help better take care of God’s creation, selected Messiah College as one of 50 Christian college campuses to be featured in the new publication, “Green Awakenings.” The report celebrates the College’s stewardship and sustainability efforts, including the solar pavilion, organic community garden, biodiesel project, and rain garden stormwater management system.
 
2009
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, and the Keystone Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America recognized Messiah College among the state’s most outstanding recycling programs with a Waste Watcher award. According to the press release issued by Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, “The Waste Watcher awards are given to recycling, waste reduction, reuse, and composting programs in Pennsylvania that have exhibited exemplary performance. Seventy-plus municipalities, counties, private businesses, individuals, and community organizations from throughout Pennsylvania were recognized for going above and beyond what is mandated under Act 101 for their communities or programs.”
 
Recyclemania, a 10-week competition that challenged colleges to out-recycle one another, ended with Messiah recycling 20.79 pounds per person and earning a state ranking of eighth!

2008
Messiah’s stewardship efforts headlined the Center for American Progress’ survey of evangelical environmentalism. The article cites the College’s sponsorship of the first-ever recycling initiative at Creation, a popular Christian music festival held each June in Mt. Union, PA.  More than 60,000 bottles and cans were recycled.  The article also highlights the on-campus community garden, a project initiated by a small group of students and supported by more than 75 volunteers. Read the Center for American Progress’ “Creation Care” report.
 
Messiah was labeled a “green college” by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities for its community garden, composting efforts, and attempts to limit paper usage. NAICU solicited summaries of sustainability initiatives from its member institutions and compiled all those findings into a website where media, prospective students, and other interested parties can quickly see an overview of collegiate environmental efforts nationwide. 
 
2006
Messiah was selected for PennFuture’s “Green Power: Turn It On” award recognizing the College’s commitment to blaze a trail toward a healthier and cleaner Pennsylvania.