As a way to bring awareness and educate the public of environmental conservation efforts, and Sacramento State has been celebrating Earth Day since then.

Sac State has dedicated resources to building a sustainable campus by being home to over 3,000 trees, creating storm drains that are self cleaning to make usable water, water absorbent asphalt for effective storm drain cleaning, landscaping with water conserving elements, school shuttles powered by clean energy, solar panels, student led research, groups working to make their campus a more efficient, sustainable facility, and many more endeavors.

In Sac State’s celebration of Earth Day this year, it used the day to highlight all its collaborative work and present it on campus in the form of fun activities like a recycling competition, food, music, a book reading, recycling tips, an electric vehicle display and many educational booths from fellow environmental organizations from the local community and student led groups.

“Celebrating Earth Day on campus is a way for us to showcase all of the amazing sustainable projects and accomplishments we all have collectively worked so hard on,” said Kristina Cullen, sustainability and operations analyst. “It is important the campus community can see the fruits of their labor and understand that although many sustainable changes can’t always be seen, the positive effects on the environment are tremendous.”

Ryan Todd, sustainability manager for Sac State, said he felt similarly. Todd helped collaborate with other groups involved with the Earth Day cerebration.

Todd said he took the position as manager because active environmental conservation was the kind of thing he loved doing.

“[Earth Day helps] bring the environment to the forefront and educates people on what they can do … [and] to celebrate the great things that people do all year,” said Todd. “Its really an event for the students … [We’re] trying to involve students in every piece of it.”