A testament to Geneseo's commitment to community service, the college was recently named ninth in the nation for the number of current students and recent alumni participating in Student Conservation Association (SCA) internships for the 2009-10 school year.
Fifteen students from Geneseo were involved in SCA internships, ranging from trail maintenance in Virginia's Jefferson National Forest to preserving and cataloging historic archive collections of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. Geneseo joins much larger schools on the top-10 list, such as Michigan State University and the University of Florida.The SCA connects young people to the natural world by engaging them in hands-on service to the land, helping them to interpret and protect the country's vital natural, historical and cultural resource treasures.
"Geneseo appeals to so many students not only because of its reputation for high quality but for its mission 'to develop socially responsible citizens,'" said Robert Bonfiglio, vice president for student and campus life. "To have this many students involved as SCA interns is a testament to how our students embrace our mission, and how our graduates personally live our mission. This work also reflects our long-standing institutional commitment to sustainability and the many conservation programs we have implemented on our own campus to emphasize the importance of protecting the environment for future generations."
Among the latest campus conservation initiatives is the opening of EcoHouse at Putnam Hall, a residential house that opened this fall that is devoted for students devoted to sustainability and social justice.