Oberlin receives environmental studies grant

The Consolidated Natural Gas Company Foundation (CNG) presented Oberlin with an Award of Excellence in Education, accompanied by a grant of $100,000 on Monday.

The money go toward the construction of the new Environmental Studies Center and to further develop the Environmental Studies Department.

"I think it is a testament to a lot of work over the last 17 years of the program," Environmental Studies Program intern Brad Masi said.

Masi said that the actual money amount is only a small part of the overall five million dollar budget for the new Environmental Studies Center. "It is mainly a recognition thing," Masi said.

"It's free money," President Nancy Dye said. "The best kind."

CNG awards independent colleges that have developed programs offering creative solutions to environmental problems. Seventy-four institutions were invited to submit a program for award consideration.

After narrowing the pool to sever contenders, the foundation sent representatives to do site visits at the colleges. Oberlin was visited in April.

The College learned of their win in June, but could not announce it until this week when the check was hand-delivered, according to Barbara Fuchsman, grants information officer.

According to Masi the foundation was impressed most by Oberlin's planned Environmental Studies Center as well as its role in the Black River Clean-up. Masi also said that the foundation noted "the extent to which we give out students first-hand learning experience."

Allegheny College and Denison University were among the other schools cited by CNG for excellence in programming.

Oberlin was cited for excellence by CNG in the early 1980s because of a Teaching Academy program organized by then Professor of Psychology Dean Wolff.