Nov 04, 2008 - Claremont. Calif. - The Jenzabar Foundation has awarded one of its seven 2008 Student Leadership Awards to the Harvey Mudd College (HMC) joint service club Engineers for a Sustainable World and Mudders Organizing for Sustainability Solutions (ESW/MOSS).

The student-run organization, dedicated to energy conservation and global sustainability, is being recognized with a $5,000 grant for its water quality and solar power project in Kenya, its sustainable agriculture project in Guinea and its commitment to increasing awareness of environmental issues on the HMC campus.

“We were notified a week before the [awards ceremony in Orlando, Fla.] that we had won one of the grants, and we were thrilled,” said Rob Best ‘10, co-president of ESW/MOSS. “Five thousand dollars is a lot for us, and can help us achieve some of our goals at Mudd and in other areas of the world.”

Best, who traveled to Florida in October with Autumn Petros-Good ‘09, immediate past president of ESW-MOSS, to receive the award, said the club will likely put the grant money toward prototypes and experimental equipment for its international endeavors in Kenya and Guinea.

“The money may also be spent on [reusable] water bottles for HMC’s student body to encourage reducing use of disposable cups or a fund to bring speakers to campus to give talks on sustainability or other environmental topics,” Best added.

The Jenzabar Foundation, established in 2006, works to recognize and support the humanitarian efforts of college and university student leaders serving others.

Since HMC’s strategic planning began almost two years ago, ESW/MOSS has been studying HMC’s usage of energy and resources, looking for ways in which to incorporate environmental science into curricula and identify how HMC students might use their technical skills for sustainability projects.

The group constitutes one of the largest and most active student organizations at the college, with weekly meetings often drawing two-dozen students and several committed faculty and staff.

Most recently, their efforts have raised conservation awareness among students and helped save thousand of dollars and kilowatt-hours in energy on the campuses of both HMC and Scripps College.

“It is exciting to be recognized for our work in foreign countries and on campus,” said Best. “The money we received will definitely help us find solutions to the problems we are tackling in Kenya and Guinea, as well as some of the challenges Mudd will face in the coming years.”