Environmental Club Members Attend ASA Conference in Kentucky Group Planning Earth Day Conference April 30

 Students and faculty members from Kent State University at East Liverpool recently attended the Appalachian Studies Association Conference held at Eastern Kentucky University. This year’s conference, which was held March 11-13, was themed “River of Earth: Action, Scholarship, Reflection, and Renewal.”

Attendees, including Environmental Club President Megan Rodgers, received scholarships from the Appalachian Studies Association to assist with the cost associated with the event.  

Rodgers said she wishes everyone could attend the conference. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I learned so much about a variety of topics. There was so much information; it was a great conference.”  

Rodgers, who is working on a bachelor’s of biology in pre-med, said the event tied into her goal of becoming an optometrist. “I want to open my own practice, and I want a better understanding of how different activities impact the environment; for instance, the importance of building green, recycling et cetera.” 

Various formats were included in the conference including: scholarly research papers and sessions; poster sessions; panels and community presentations; new and relevant films, videos, poetry, music, plays, art, and writing; and roundtable conversations on relevant, contemporary issues.

As one of more than 100 sessions, the students, which included Rodgers, Karen Pletcher, Eric Wilson and Chris Haas-Riehl, discussed their experiences setting up and working with the annual Earth Day Conference and the campus’ Environmental Club. Dr. Roxanne Burns and Dr. Patti Swartz also accompanied the group.

This year, the group’s Earth Day Conference will be April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent State East Liverpool. The student-organized conference focuses on environmental justice issues. Students will showcase papers and presentations, environmentally safe cleaning products will be raffled off and trees will be given away. 

On May 15 the group, which is involved with numerous community events, will host its second annual fashion show at in downtown East Liverpool. The show is geared towards high school students, but anyone over the age of 16 may participate. Cash prizes are awarded. The goal is to create an outfit out of either paper, metal or plastic materials. 

“Last year we had a contestant make a dress out of pop cans,” Rodgers said. “It was very interesting to see such creative resourcefulness.” For more information on the club, students may contact Rodgers at mrodger8@kent.edu.