Congratulations to the Class of 2010!
Last Saturday was like any other Saturday, minus the fact that I got to watch President Obama speak live at my alma-mater's graduation ceremony (the University of Michigan). Flash forward a couple days and I am driving along listening to NPR on the radio on my way to work. As a natural wolverine instinct, my blood began to boil as our biggest rival's graduation ceremony was discussed--Michigan State University (MSU). There's no denying that having the President of the United States speak at your alma mater is awesome, but I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of jealousy after hearing about MSU's green commencement.
Like for example at MSU's ceremony...
- Invitations were all electronic..."The switch from paper to nearly 8,000 electronic invitations saved 7,288 trees or 1,043 tons of wood; 2,317 million BTUs or the heating for 25 homes; 694,768 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent or 64 fewer cars on the road; 3,345,169 gallons of water or six Olympic-size swimming pools; and 208,188 pounds of solid waste or eight garbage trucks," as it's posted on MSU's news site
- The diplomas were made from recycled paper
- Each cap was made from a 20-ounce plastic bottle
- And the gowns were made from 20-ounce plastic bottles--12 per gown. Meaning more than 58,000 plastic bottles were used to robe the graduating class...see photo above of the robes in action.
- More than 16,500 yards of fabric were saved using a matte finish instead of a shiny one
- Commencement booklets were made of recycled paper with soy-based ink
That got me to thinking about my own polyester graduation gown--which is who knows where. It looks like a bunch of companies such as Oak Hall and
Willsie Cap and Gown Co are starting to look at alternative options. Such as MSU's recycled plastic bottle gowns (which can be recycled again), and also, as I've heard on NPR, there are now gowns that are biodegradable.
I love the "movement" starting to take place. More importantly than the tradition of gowns itself is the much deserved congratulatory message to the graduating class of 2010...CONGRATS! And I'll leave those about to join the real world with a set of words a wise woman recently said...
"For today, goodbye.
For tomorrow, good luck.
And forever, Go Blue!"
— Mary Sue Coleman, President of the University of Michigan
Special thanks to Spartan Kellie Kaplan for use of her uber cute photos of the ladies in green, and a love shout out to wolverine
David Belo and photographer
Adam Jacobs for their maize 'n blue photo above.
By Gawky Green of Two Girls Go Green
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