Environmental Science Club receives recognition from city program

Members of the Environmental Science Club along with faculty and staff celebrate receiving the Spirit of Volunteerism Award.

Riverside, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2020) – The Environmental Science Club at California Baptist University received the Spirit of Volunteerism Award from the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) program.

Connie Librenjak, executive director of KRCB, presented the award on Oct. 28. She said CBU’s Environmental Science Club received the award for its exemplary service.

“For the last five to six years, you have consistently come out for the Santa Ana River cleanup and for the Ward 5 cleanup,” Librenjak said. CBU is located within Ward 5 of Riverside. “Anytime we have ever called over the years, this Environmental Science Club is right there.”

KRCB is a community program sponsored by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. Its mission is to foster a sense of community pride by creating partnerships that work toward the beautification of the city.

Miranda Johnson-Phillips, president of the Environmental Science Club, said she felt honored to receive the award.

“It’s nice at times to see the fruit of your labor manifest into an award,” Johnson-Phillips said. “It’s awesome because although I’m accepting this as the current president, I’m also representing those who came before me and honoring the work they’ve put in and done.”

The Environmental Science Club hosts many events throughout the year, from Arbor Day at CBU (an event that plants trees on the CBU campus) to participating in the Santa Ana River cleanup and cleaning up local parks.

Tara Duncan, vice president of the club, said she was excited to receive the award.

“I’m from Texas and coming here, I wanted to get involved so I joined this club,” Duncan said. “We don’t volunteer or do these things to get recognized but when it happens we really appreciate it.”

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science and the club’s faculty advisor, said he was proud of the club receiving the award.

“CBU is a Christ-centered university. As a part of that mission we as a club act as Christian stewards who take care of God’s creation through our local community and environment,” Koo said. “It’s a very rewarding experience taking part in keeping our local community clean and I think our students are doing great at that.”

Students interested in joining the club or participating in one of its events can contact Koo at BonjunKoo@calbaptist.edu or Johnson-Phillips at MirandaC.JohnsonPhillips@calbaptist.edu.