There was something new and very “green” at this year’s 14th annual Welcome Day held earlier in the semester at Washtenaw Community College.
This year marked the first time the WCC Student Activities Office collaborated with the Zero Waste Washtenaw Initiative, the Students for Sustainability Club, and the WCC Facilities Department in efforts to make Welcome Day a zero-waste event.
In an attempt to be green, paper tablecloths were used as opposed to vinyl, compostable cups were handed out instead of water bottles, and all freebies were absent of plastic wrap.
The group’s efforts achieved an impressive 94 percent diversion rate exceeding its 80 percent goal.
Also new this year was a display that featured the Ann Arbor Charter Township Fire Department showing students how to put out a fire. It was a popular display judging by the large number of students who lined up to learn how to operate a fire extinguisher.
Fun and smiles were on full display all afternoon as hundreds of students, faculty and staff learned about the various WCC clubs, organizations, departments and community partners. As in the past, guests also enjoyed creating wax hand molds and getting airbrush tattoos.
“Our favorite part of the day is seeing all contingents of the WCC community come together in one place for a high-energy, welcome-to-campus event,” said Rachel Barsch, supervisor of Student Activities at WCC.
Winter Welcome Day is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information or to host a free table during Winter Welcome Day, contact Rachel Barsch at rbarsch@wccnet.edu or 734-973-3691.
By Princess Gabbara
Writer, Public Relations