Vancouver, BC - June 28, 2007. Vancouver Career College has awarded its first annual Sustainability and Green Futures Scholarship. Chilliwack resident Simone Beimbrink received the $10,000 scholarship for her essay on environmental responsibility in the workplace.
Beimbrink, having just completed an agricultural technician program at another institution, entered the contest hoping to pursue a career in business administration or accounting and merge her two fields of study.
"I don't just want to work in a greenhouse," she says. "I want to expand into another field - maybe banking or accounting combined with agriculture."
In her 750-word essay, Beimbrink outlined a number of straight forward, easy-to-implement ideas to make any office more environmentally responsible -from recycling materials and office equipment to energy conservation and transportation.
While a number of applicants presented innovative suggestions for sustainable practices, what made her essay stand out was its similarities to Vancouver Career College's sustainability initiatives.
The scholarship is just one part of the college's Sustainability and Green Futures Initiative that was launched in May 2007. The initiative is a multifaceted plan that will see Vancouver Career College implement sustainable
business practices into its operations, incorporate a sustainability module into the majority of its programming, and develop a number of green-oriented programs.
Beimbrink will accept the scholarship at a small ceremony at Vancouver Career College, Chilliwack campus on Friday, June 29, 2007 at 11:00 AM.