PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY HONORED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK

President Roseann Runte was honored with the Ernie Morgan Award of Service by the Norfolk Environmental Commission (NEC) at the group's recent dinner dance and 25th anniversary event.

Presented to an individual or organization that has made an extraordinary contribution to promoting environmental improvement for Norfolk citizens, the annual award is the highest honor the NEC bestows. It is named for Ernie Morgan, a well-known community activist and founder of the Norfolk Clean Community System, predecessor of the Norfolk Environmental Commission.

Runte was recognized at the Nov. 6 "Trashy" Dinner Dance for her leadership and direction of the many initiatives Old Dominion has created to improve the environment. The university also received the Most Outstanding Friend of Norfolk's Environment award at the event.

According to the group, the awards were presented for several initiatives, including:

*The Engineering and Computational Sciences Building is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified higher education building in Virginia. The new building meets certification requirements by using various techniques to be a sustainable site, exemplifying water efficiency, saving energy, using renewable building materials, and ensuring indoor environmental quality.

*The University is involved in a wetland restoration project with The Elizabeth River Project at the mouth of a storm water drainage canal on campus.

*The University is taking steps to reduce the discharge of pollutants from its small municipal separate storm sewer system to protect water quality and satisfy water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law.

*All incoming freshmen will be required to take a new global environmental course, titled, "New Portal to Appreciating our Global Environment (NewPAGE).