Student Council Sustainability Officer Program Overview
SCSO is a unique form of student engagement that aims to develop sustainability leaders, improve civic engagement, and embed sustainability on school campuses. The Sustainability Officer position is added the Student Council with the purpose of enhancing their campus through implementing green events and educating the student body on sustainability.
The mission of the program is to add Sustainability Officer positions to Student Governments with the goal of educating and motivating the student body on sustainability.
Check out the benefits of participating in the program for both students and schools here.
Annual Sustainability Challenge
The City of Phoenix, City Manager's Office of Sustainability hosts an annual Sustainability Challenge for the Phoenix Union High School District in partnership with ASU Sustainable Cities Network. The Sustainability Challenge is an opportunity for high school students to learn and implement sustainable practices in their schools. Students use the Greening Events Guide for Schools to earn points in the challenge. The theme of the challenge changes each year. Check out some of our past challenges and winners! Past winners have received a combined total of $25,000 to embed sustainability on their school campus.
2023-2024 Sustainability Challenge (Jan 29 – March 1)
This year's theme is Lettuce Reduce Waste it focuses on waste management and what can be done to reduce the amount of waste created.
Week One: Weigh the Waste
Week Two: Trim the Waste
Week Three: Second Life Sustainability
Week Four: One Bin at a Time
Week Five: Global Green Wave
To learn more about the challenge check out the 2023-2024 Sustainability Challenge Guidelines.
Past Winners:
2022-2023 Every Drop Counts
Large Schools -
1st Place: North High School
2nd Place: Maryvale High School
Small Schools -
1st Place: Franklin Police and Fire High School
2nd Place: Bioscience High School
2021-2022 Fashion for the Future
1st Place: Wilson College Prep
2nd Place: Bioscience High School
2019-2020 Green Games
1st Place: Franklin Police & Fire Academy
2nd Place: Bioscience High School
3rd Place: Cesar Chavez High School
2018-2019 Green Yo Prom
1st Place: Bioscience High School
1st Place: Franklin Police & Fire Academy
3rd Place: Betty H Fairfax High School
2017-2018 Food and Fitness Challenge
1st Place: Linda Abril Education Academy
2nd Place: Alhambra High School
3rd Place: Wilson College Prep
SCSO News
Coming soon.
Resources
City of Phoenix Sustainability Officer Campus Framework
Phoenix Union Lead Sustainability Officer
Arizona Greening Events Guide for Schools
ASU Sustainable Cities Greening Events Implementation Guide
Sustainability Officer Resource Guide
Follow us on Instagram:
@lettucereducewastephx
Contact Us:
Interested in starting a Sustainability Officer program at your school? Reach out to Michael Marting at michael.marting@phoenix.gov or Darice Ellis at darice.ellis@phoenix.gov to learn more or get started!
