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Scholars students took home several top awards at the 36th University Student Leadership Awards on Sunday, May 7. University Awards recognized Maryland Medallion Society members and Byrd/Elkins Finalists who have contributed significantly to the general advancement of this university’s interests and displayed outstanding involvement and leadership in campus activities. These students are the university’s top 20 senior students; two Scholars alumni were recognized by the Maryland Medallion Society:

After spending six years building up the Environment, Technology and Economy Scholars program as director, Becky Archer will be moving across the Atlantic Ocean to Belgium. "I loved every day working with students who wanted to find innovative ways to make our way of life more just and sustainable. The students pushed me to research fields that I had minimal background in, finding new and creative ways to look for opportunity,” Archer said. "The faculty and staff of Scholars are some of the most caring, intelligent folks that I have ever known, and it was an honor to work with people who were willing to step outside their comfort zone all for the purpose of making the student experience more meaningful."

Two graduates of the College Park Scholars program have channeled their entrepreneurial passions in the launch of their new food truck business. The Q Truck officially launched Sept. 2, along with several other popular trucks from the DMV area. Former Environment, Technology and the Economy Scholar David Engle and senior Business, Society and the Economy Scholar Chris Szeluga decided to start this new business venture soon after new legislation in Prince George’s County allowed food trucks in designated Food Truck Hubs, Engle said.

Scholars students came out in full force for the Climate Action 2016 forum and summit on campus and in DC from May 4-6. The three day-long events focused on climate change and sustainability, looking at how to turn a problem into an opportunity for change. Eight current Scholars found their niche interning with Climate Action 2016 through the Public Leadership (PL) and Environment, Technology and Economy (ETE) programs. “James [Stillwell] offered PL students the option to intern with him this spring, and myself as well as a few of my peers jumped at the opportunity,” freshman PL Scholar and psychology major Pamela Kekst said.

A group of five students from the Environment, Technology and Economy program are working to install water meters in North Campus residence hall showers to educate students about water usage and reduce their water consumption.  The Office of Sustainability awarded the team, known as Team Shower Power, a $4,260 grant to fund the project. "[The grant] is funding purchasing of the shower meters and purchasing of the materials for the educational campaign component,” said Jada Mosley, a sophomore English and environmental science and policy major. “So once we actually have data, we can tell them [students] what the shower meters are actually for and we can tell them how they can reduce their water use.”