October has been designated as Campus Sustainability Month by the Association for Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education. Sustainability Day is an opportunity to celebrate and cultivate choices for sustainable living that lead to healthy environments, economies, and societies.

鈥淪ustainability is always about Earth stewardship, using resources in a responsible way. Using the three pillar model of sustainability, economics, society and environment.鈥� said Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor geology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and chair of the Sustainability Committee. 鈥淵ou need these three things for something to be sustainable. Being able to get people thinking about sustainability but also to do it in practice. It鈥檚 about inspiring people to not only think about sustainability but to live it.鈥�

Onsite vendors will include Arkansas Quail Forever, Armored Art, Bright and Bone, City of Little Rock Sustainability, Forever Flowers, Fortune Francos, Friends of Fourche Creek/Keep Little Rock Beautiful, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, Man of the Red Earth, Meadowcliff Honey, Murder Farm, Sacred Earth Gifts, Southern Twisted Tea & Zeps Garden LLC, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Campus Garden, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Campus Recreation, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Career Services, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Committee. 

鈥淭he Sustainability Day event has been going on for years, and it does not happen without the hard work from the committee,鈥� DeAngelis said.  鈥淭he committee is a good mix of people from around the campus. Faculty, staff, and students come together to bring Sustainability Day together.鈥�

For more information on Sustainability Day, contact sustainability@ualr.edu or visit

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With the help of a $1,700 sustainability grant from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Committee, Epperson and Dr. Ian Clifton, Epperson鈥檚 faculty advisor, installed 20 bat boxes along Coleman Creek and 10 owl boxes across the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus.

鈥淏ats and owls are a natural solution to pest control,鈥� said Epperson, a Little Rock native who graduates this August. 鈥淏ats help control insect populations like mosquitoes, while owls help reduce rodents. This project encourages biodiversity and reduces our reliance on chemicals.鈥�

Epperson developed the project under the guidance of Clifton, a biology professor who specializes in ecology. The initiative was inspired by Epperson鈥檚 interest in sustainability and their desire to support Arkansas wildlife in urban environments, where habitat loss has impacted native species.

鈥淎s we build more homes and remove trees, bats lose their natural roosting sites,鈥� Clifton said. 鈥淎dding safe, artificial roosts like these boxes is one way we can support bat populations, which have been steadily declining across the country.鈥�

Originally intended as a native plant project along Coleman Creek, Epperson shifted focus after learning how bats use the creek as a navigational tool. They worked with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Facilities Management employees to select optimal locations for the boxes and received logistical support during installation.

All 20 bat boxes were placed along the creek, where insect populations are high and bats are likely to roost. The 10 owl boxes, designed for screech owls, were spread across campus, including locations like the Campus Garden, to help manage rodent populations.

The project is also designed with long-term research in mind. Epperson developed protocols for monitoring the bat boxes. Biology students will be able to use the boxes to monitor bat populations for diseases and track species diversity.

鈥淭his gives us a lot of opportunities for student-led research,鈥� Clifton said. 鈥淲e can monitor bat health and activity through non-invasive methods and potentially tie that into broader conservation efforts, especially as discussions about rewilding Coleman Creek continue.鈥�

Epperson, who was one of four recipients to receive a sustainability grant during the 2024-25 school year, said the project has been a valuable learning experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been more challenging than I expected, but I鈥檓 proud of what we accomplished,鈥� Epperson said. 鈥淚 hope it inspires others to pursue projects that make a difference for our environment.鈥�

Although they won鈥檛 be on campus in the fall, Epperson is glad to know the work will continue.

鈥淚鈥檒l be there in spirit,鈥� Epperson said. 鈥淚鈥檇 love to see this project grow and become a foundation for even more research and conservation work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

People who are interested in building their own bat boxes can visit this article from .

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These grants, awarded annually, fund initiatives up to $2,500 that focus on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and the integration of sustainable practices into the university鈥檚 operations and curriculum. This year鈥檚 grants support four creative ideas from students and faculty that foster sustainable practices and enhance the university’s commitment to a greener future.

Dr. Kyungsun Lee, assistant professor of geography and chair of the grant judging committee, said she was delighted to see numerous outstanding proposals for this year鈥檚 sustainability grants.

鈥淚t is truly encouraging to see our campus community – students, staff, and faculty – coming forward with innovative ideas spanning water resources, waste management, ecology, and energy solutions to enhance 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s sustainability,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淭he quality and diversity of these projects reflect our community’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and we look forward to seeing their implementation over the coming year.鈥�

Lane Epperson, a biology student, received a grant to enhance campus biodiversity and support local wildlife populations by installing bat boxes along Coleman Creek and owl boxes across the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. The project promotes natural pest control through ecosystem services, as both bats and owls effectively manage insect and rodent populations without chemical interventions.

Morgan Leyenberger, an instructor of social work, received a grant to purchase a food composter to reduce food waste for faculty, staff, and students in the School of Social Work.

鈥淭his is a faculty and student project. Officers from Phi Alpha, our social work honor society, researched the composter and chose the one we plan to purchase,鈥� Leyenberger said. 鈥淭hey also plan to develop a marketing campaign to encourage students and employees in social work to use it. We want to encourage people to use the compost for their plants and home gardens. The students are very excited about the sustainability project. They plan to hold a contest to name the composter. They are social work students, so of course they plan to anthropomorphize the composter.鈥�

Meanwhile, Dr. Heather Black, assistant professor of geology, will use her grant funding to conduct a comprehensive assessment of drinking water on campus. Black will collect and analyze samples from all buildings on campus, and the findings will contribute to understanding campus infrastructure and potentially guide future maintenance and improvement decisions.

鈥淚’m very excited to receive this $1,500 grant as we currently do not have drinking water quality monitoring on campus, so this will be the first step to ensure our water is of the best possible quality in the future,鈥� Black said.

Colby Martinez, a mechanical engineering major, received a grant to install solar-powered charging stations throughout campus that will provide students, employees, and visitors with access to renewable energy for their electronic devices. The initiative demonstrates a practical approach to sustainability, aiming to reduce the university’s carbon footprint while making renewable energy technology visible and accessible in daily campus life.

“Grant recipients will showcase their project progress at the upcoming Earth Day Event on April 22,” Lee said, who noted that another round of grant funding will open during the Fall 2025 semester. “If you have ideas for improving campus sustainability, hold onto them and apply in the fall.”

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October has been designated as Campus Sustainability Month by the Association for Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education. Sustainability Day is an opportunity to celebrate and cultivate choices for sustainable living that lead to healthy environments, economies, and societies.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Committee wants to show our campus community the great things that are already going on related to sustainability at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and to encourage all members of our community to consider ways in which they can enhance sustainability best practices around campus and in their own lives,鈥� said Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of geology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and chair of the Sustainability Committee.

There are several new activities during this year鈥檚 Sustainability Day celebration, including:

• An earthquake drill will take place at 10:17 a.m. as part of the Great Central U.S. Shakeout, a region-wide earthquake drill, and Earth Science Week.
• A Campus Sustainability Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants will tour the Campus Garden, recycling collection warehouse, generator building, and more sustainable sites around campus. Interested parties should meet at the Sustainability Committee Table at 10:50 a.m.
• Dr. Kyungsun Lee will give a talk, 鈥淪ustainability Across the Curriculum,鈥� to the Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence at 12:30 p.m. in Ottenheimer Library 535.
• 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 2024 Sustainability Grant winners will be announced at 1:45 p.m. at the Sustainability Committee Table.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Committee is also partnering with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension office and Keep Little Rock Beautiful to hold a cleanup of Coleman Creek starting at 3 pm. Cleanup volunteers are needed, and should meet at the 糖心Vlog传媒EX building located just north of the Jack Stephens Center.

Onsite vendors will include AMCR Creations, Bright & Bone, City of Little Rock Sustainability, Forever Flowers, Fortune Francos, Friends of Fourche Creek, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, the Green Hare Bakery, Harley and Charlie Creations, Karen Palmer, Keep Little Rock Beautiful, Lone Cabin Coffee, Meadowcliff Honey, Melba Peach Candle, Murder Farm Hot Sauce, Pretty Baked Bakery, Sacred Heart Gifts, Sad Gift Craft Co. Short Weaver Studio, Southern Twisted Tea, the Fortunate Mushroom, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Career Services, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Campus Garden, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wellness and Campus Sports.

For more information on Sustainability Day, contact sustainability@ualr.edu or visit

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Toni Boyer, web marketer and analyst in the Office of Communications and Marketing, has received the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award. The award recipient is an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas or support, and encouragement of others.

Ashley Nipp, accountant in the Office of Alumni and Development, has received the Community Service Award. This award recipient has been particularly successful in organizing community events or had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations/events.

Additionally, Ben Krain, photographer in the Office of Communications and Marketing, has received the Personal Growth Award. The award winner is described as an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding.

鈥淭he three staff members who won these awards represent staff dedication and commitment to our institution and our community,鈥� said Ross Bradley, president of Staff Senate and web and provost office manager. 鈥淭heir contributions have benefited faculty, students, fellow staff, and our community members in countless ways. Without staff contributions like the ones highlighted in these three staff members, it would be impossible for the institution to meet its goals.鈥�

The three winners will receive a $3,000 award distributed via payroll distributions. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association Board of Director members Guy Choate, Becky Flynn, Heidi Harrell, Summer Khairi, and Justin Martin served as judges.

More information about the Staff Achievement Award winners:

Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award

Since joining the university in 2016, Boyer has been an active member of the campus community who is dedicated to giving back and making 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock a remarkable campus. She started off in the Staff Senate and immediately jumped into leadership roles, serving as secretary and communications officer during her two-year term. She is an active participant in campus events and can often be seen volunteering at events like Commencement, Discover, and BBQ @ Bailey.

As a member of the Sustainability Committee since 2018, Boyer has taken part in many projects that show staff, students, and faculty members how they can take steps to conserve resources, connect with community initiatives, and protect the environment. She has helped select the winners of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Grants, which have brought several innovative and environmentally friendly projects to campus over the years.

She also organizes popular campus events like Sustainability Day, Earth Day, and free giveaways of energy-friendly items from Entergy. Boyer also chairs the Building and Grounds Committee, which promotes beautification on campus, ensures protection of the natural and aesthetic environment on campus, and provides recommendations on plans for new campus construction. She also represents the Building and Grounds Committee on the Trojan Way project committee, a multimillion infrastructure project that will greatly reshape the face of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

“It’s really great to see Toni recognized for all she does to support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Meaghan Milliorn, director of digital strategy and Boyer鈥檚 supervisor. 鈥淪he’s been very involved in the annual Earth Day events and serves on the Sustainability Committee and the Building and Grounds Committee. She knows that each of us can make a positive impact on campus and that we all have a role to play. She truly has a heart for giving back and supporting the university.”

Additionally, Boyer is a part of the Communications and Marketing Web Team that is in the middle of a major multi year project, the redesign and relaunch of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 website. She is working to implement a new analytics tool to address user privacy, a major concern of the campus community.

Staff Achievement Award for Community Service

Since joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2018, Nipp has been involved in several organizations and initiatives that are dedicated to community service.

鈥淚n her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Ashley has been involved in several organizations to aid in the inclusive mission of the university,鈥� said Samantha Wiley, associate director of advancement services, who nominated Nipp for the award. 鈥淚t is because of her commitment to ensuring 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock continues to advance and be all-encompassing for everyone that I believe she is the ideal candidate for this award.鈥�

While first working at the William H. Bowen School of Law, Nipp joined the steering committee of the All IN Campus Campaign, where she encouraged giving among the faculty and staff members of the university. Her enthusiasm led to getting more faculty and staff at Bowen involved in the university鈥檚 fundraising initiatives.

As a member of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate for the past three years, Nipp has put her skills to use chairing the Fundraising Committee. It was her idea to start holding fundraisers at Chipotle, which has been extremely successful in raising money for one of the Staff Senate鈥檚 key initiatives, the Helping Hands Campaign, which provides holiday food baskets for university community members in need.

Nipp is an active member of Safe Zone at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, first serving as the chair of communications and as a member of the group鈥檚 Education Committee. The purpose of Safe Zone is to educate the campus community about issues related to individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and to ensure individuals in the LGBTQ+ community view campus as a safe place.

鈥淎shley works to distribute information across campus for students, faculty, and staff to know how they can aid in the efforts, become advocates, and create safe spaces so that everyone enjoys their time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Wiley said.

Additionally, Nipp is a member of the Arkansas chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where she serves on the executive board as vice president of communications. As a university representative in Arkansas philanthropy networks, Nipp uses her position to learn best industry practices to elevate the fundraising efforts of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for the Centennial Campaign, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 largest fundraising effort in university history.

Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth

A familiar face around campus, Krain is responsible for capturing the university鈥檚 stories and bringing them to life for the campus community through his photos and videos.

鈥淏en has demonstrated exceptional creativity and talent in capturing the essence of our campus through his lens,鈥� said Angie Faller, news director, who nominated Krain for the award. 鈥淗is dedication and hard work have undoubtedly made a significant impact on the university community. Ben is truly an artist at heart, and I have seen his work move people to tears.鈥�

An alumnus of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Krain worked as a photographer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more than two decades before joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2019. His work has taken him all over the world. In 2022, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock held a solo exhibit of Krain鈥檚 work called 鈥淓ncounters,鈥� which featured photographs taken over the last two decades of his career covering events, sports, disasters, and wars.

Krain continues to grow his skill as a fine artist by displaying his work in art galleries every year. In a 2021 exhibit, Krain and Professor Kensuke Yamada were featured in an art exhibit at the Historic Arkansas Museum that converged around the artists鈥� observations and thoughts surrounding the aloneness of creating during the COVID-19 era. The exhibit, 鈥�2020-21 Collectively Alone: Works by Benjamin Krain and Kensuke Yamada,鈥� was curated by the Arkansas Arts Council and reflected on the experiences, moments, and thoughts of beauty and individuality.

In his drive for personal growth and development, Krain is a lifelong learner who is working to learn about the latest photographic equipment, techniques, and trends to improve his craft. One area where he has gained tremendous growth is his videography skills. He has recently been recognized for his talent in creating a video of a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock study abroad class that traveled to the Bahamas last year.

The video, 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock in the Bahamas,鈥� was recognized this spring with the Merit Award in the Special Video category in the 38th Annual Educational Advertising Awards. The video also received a Silver Award in the Digital Special Video category last fall in the 10th Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards.

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