Four Coastal Carolina University students have been selected as the Spring 2014 Eco-Rep Leaders, a student leadership program sponsored by the Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative.

These students, who started the program in January 2014, include William Bassler, a political science major with a minor in environmental students from Long Island, NY; Shelby Farmer, a sociology major from Burlington, VT; Rayne Newswanger, a marine science major with a minor in biology from Hegin, Pa.; and Shannon Wesstrom, a marine science major from York, Pa. Maria Ferio, a political science major from Cleveland, Ohio, is the Eco-Rep Leader student coordinator.

The Eco-Rep Leadership Program selects students that represent the Sustainability Initiative at CCU. They are leaders and peer educators who model and promote environmental responsibility. Eco-Rep Leaders work to develop programs and events that challenge their peers and the campus community to adopt more sustainable behaviors.

As a part of the program, Eco-Rep Leaders are required to connect and collaborate with a department or campus organization, complete five educational presentations, plan and coordinate activities during Earth Month in April.

The Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative is committed to transform Coastal Carolina University into an environmentally sustainable university through campus operations, student curriculum, engaging students through learning and outreach, and collaboration in the community through sustainable stewardship of resources. Established in 2005, the Sustainability Initiative coordinates sustainable green projects and programs on campus and in the community, including recycling, water refill stations, waste reduction, conservation, transportation, as well as campus events such as the Farmers Market, Sustainability Fair, Recycled Boat Race, Celebrate the Earth and Campus Salvage.