Updated as of 9:46 a.m. on April 30 to include video.
Elon University Dining Hall celebrated Earth Week with its annual Earth Festival to highlight important aspects of the environment. The community came together for an afternoon of fun and dining services collaborated with local vendors and student organizations. Elon students had the opportunity to enjoy live music, local food and pet farm animals.
The Earth Festival took place on Medallion Plaza on April 25. The event also featured environmental education and entertainment to inform Elon students about the Earth. Tables were set up with information on how to manage students’ ecological footprint and minimize resource consumption. The materials provided for activities are recycled such as plant pots, soil and paint brushes.
Sustainability Coordinator of Dining Leslie Bosse said this is her second year hosting the festival, which she said has transformed into a great opportunity for students. Bosse said it is important to understand the influence of local partnerships within the Elon community, and hopes that students build connections with local partners to learn to support the environment.
“This is the perfect opportunity,” Bosse said. “Our students get to talk to local partners, but even today, I've been talking with our local partners and really getting to know them more. It's all about building those relationships and emphasizing community. That's what matters to us.”
Elon students connect with student businesses and organizations to celebrate Earth Week on April 25 at Medallion Plaza.
Bosse also said she has seen tremendous growth in the community as students come out to enjoy the festival.
“It’s even bigger and better than last year,” Bosse said. “A little more exciting, and a little more environmentally friendly this year, try to make some of those changes as well. That's what we strive for every year.”
Bosse said her ultimate goal is to educate students about Elon’s sustainability process to improve the environment. For example, she encouraged students to recycle more going forward with their compostable plates and cups.
Jennifer Hart, supervisor at Lakeside Dining Hall, has been working at Elon Dining Services for almost 22 years. She said she has worked at a variety of food stations as a food runner at the festival and enjoys meeting new students outside the dining hall.
“My favorite part of the festival is the students,” Hart said. “I love being able to talk to them and interact with you and get a little bit more personal time.”
Elon students gather recycled clothing to exchange with the community at the 2024 Earth Festival on April 25 at Medallion Plaza.
Local organizations and student vendors also introduced creative designs for students to enjoy. Senior Shriya Varu, owner of an Indian-American fusion brand named Kolis USA, offers unique styles to celebrate Indian culture. Varu said she has participated in the Earth Festival for two years and enjoys sharing her heritage.
“I started my business in my sophomore year to spread Indian culture on campus,” Varu said. “Because one thing that Elon lacks is diversity and I just want to bring my Indian culture to the area.”
Varu said she chose the acorn for her logo as a lucky charm for success as a student business. Her products include quotes, sweatshirts, and Elon merch inspired by acorns. She said she feels welcomed into the Elon community.
“It has been amazing,” Varu said. “I just can't believe the amount of love and support I've gotten from the Elon community. It's just such a nice feeling every time I see a person appreciate my culture and the design and they just want to grab something from my place.”
Freshman Lindsey Dwyer attended the event and said it was her first time at the Earth Festival; she introduced her new business Knits and Giggles, which sells handmade knits, crotchets and jewelry. Dwyer said she opened the business with her friend Trudy Brement only three months into their freshman year.
“We both loved crocheting as a hobby,” Dwyer said. “We discovered this opportunity through other vendors in Oaks Originals. My first year at the festival has been great — meeting new people who also share my interests in crocheting.”
Freshman Lindsey Dwyer opens her business Knits and Giggles to the Elon community. Local vendors shared their interests at Elon's 2024 Earth Festival on April 25 at Medallion Plaza.
Senior Daniel Saltsgaver, president of the German Club, said he wanted to attend the event to educate students about the recycling process in Germany. According to Saltsgaver, Germany has a unique trash-sorting system.
In Germany, recycling products are organized into color-coded bins such as blue, yellow, orange, brown, gray and glass. This process also includes batteries, electronics and bottle return machines. In comparison, Elon’s waste reduction program includes bins across campus such as compost, recycle, and landfill. These initiatives are used to educate students about biodegradable materials and sustainability.
The German Club created a game to sort trash into various bins so the maximum amount of products are recycled and not wasted.
“We wanted to show people that there's a different way to sort trash,” Saltsgaver said. “This brings more attention to environmental factors and ensures students recycle on campus. We want people to visit our table and learn about Germany. It's a lot of fun.”
Sophomore Rachel Buckle said she was excited to see the cows and play her favorite game: spike ball. She also said her friend group had a great time listening to music and meeting new people. Buckle’s favorite part of the festival was the ice cream sandwiches with chocolate chip cookies and strawberries.
“Students should definitely take advantage of the event,” Buckle said. “I feel that it's important to learn different things about different groups that we have on campus. This is also a cool place to socialize in the community.”
Freshman Winell Henriquez shared this sentiment and said she learned the value of caring for the environment.
“I learned to be grateful for what we have around us,” Henriquez said. “I like how this event brought everyone together. Just having a great time and promoting how we should take care of the Earth.”