Professional Writing and Editing student Kris Lynch is the winner of the inaugural Box Hill Institute Sustainability Scholarship. The scholarship entitles him to $1000 towards tuition and material fees, along with a bicycle or six-month public transport ticket from his place of residence to the Institute. It was awarded by the Innovation Champions – a group of staff who endorse innovative ideas and projects, and facilitate the development of an innovative culture at the Institute.

Kris was selected by an independent panel that included Whitehorse Council Environmental Officer Kate Patkin, Centre Manager for Information and Communication Technologies Simon Taylor and Centre for Creative Industries Senior Educator Michael Zangmeister. The panel felt Kris had already achieved significant outcomes related to sustainability within the Institute, and had demonstrated an ability to proactively achieve the outcomes outlined in his submission.

Before applying for the scholarship, Kris had already joined the Institute’s Student Representative Council and Green Team, of which he is president. So far this year, the Green Team has already organised a Mug-A-Soup Day as part of the “No Rubbish Lunch” campaign; Kris also helped the SRC run their Clothes Swap Day, which promoted recycling and the reuse of sustainable resources.

“I believe little things make a big difference,” says Kris, who practices what he preaches by taking shorter showers, turning appliances off when not in use, taking public transport as much as possible and recycling.

Kris plans on doing a sustainability audit of the Institute as part of his scholarship obligations. “There is definitely room for improvement, especially placing more cigarette and recycling bins around campus,” he says, adding that this was a major concern of students in a recent student satisfaction survey. He hopes then to liaise with Facilities to put practical ideas into action.

“Together, along with the students and staff, I believe we can make Box Hill TAFE the benchmark of sustainable practices, and lead the other institutes by example,” he says.

Kris will have the guidance and support of a Box Hill Institute staff mentor, ICT teacher Kam Ho, in developing and implementing his sustainability project. Kam has a great deal of knowledge and experience in sustainability issues, and currently works with Wind Prospect in managing the development of wind power parks in Australia. He is also the founder and Executive Director of Forward Shift Environmental, a non-profit environmental organisation that works with city councils, universities and small to medium enterprises in the successful implementation of sustainability audits, strategies and initiatives.