Miami University students and Talawanda High School students are working together to increase awareness and knowledge of environmental sustainability in the Oxford community. The organization, First Annual ComMUnity Initiative, brings together Green Oxford members, Farmer School of Business students and Talawanda students. The organization provides education about recycling initiatives, the business school's LEED certification and Edun Live On Campus, a T-shirt business that promotes sustainable employment in Africa. ComMUnity Program will host a series of various projects during the year, including a science fair where Miami students will act as mentors for the Talawanda students as they develop their projects.
This partnership is a great opportunity for both Miami and Talawanda students to learn from each other. Successful Miami students can inspire younger students to learn about environmental sustainability. The program can also excite Talawanda students about the opportunities higher education offers. The challenges of high school can make it difficult to see college as an option, but if middle and high school students see the options that college makes available, they can get more excited about their future.
A lot of the interaction between Talawanda and Miami students happens at night on High Street or Saturday mornings when students are making their way to Starbucks for a much needed coffee. Neither one of these situations place Miami students in the greatest light. This partnership could dispel preconceived notions both Miami and Talawanda students may have about each other. Growing up in a college town should excite younger students about higher education and this partnership uses Miami resources to benefit multiple parties. Starting this project with middle school students uses the university to inspire students too young for post-secondary options about the prospect of college and plants a love of learning at a younger age.
The editorial board of The Miami Student believes Miami students will also benefit from this partnering. Talawanda students come from various backgrounds and this diversity can educate Miami students. By mentoring students for their science fair projects, Miami students will challenge their knowledge of environmental issues. They will have to know the issues well enough to explain them in an understandable manner and can learn from the innovative methods the younger students may know to develop and present the project. This board believes the collaboration of Green Oxford, Miami students and Talawanda students will be beneficial to all organizations and increase the community's knowledge of environmental sustainability.
