Earth Day is the annual celebration that brings awareness to the environment and encourages people to be kind to the world we live in. Earth Day is celebrated Apr. 22 worldwide.

The first Earth Day began in 1970, when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day after witnessing a massive oil spill on the coast of California. Sen. Nelson believed that in raising awareness environmental protection would become part of the national political agenda. 

Earth Day is celebrated around the world with almost one billion people in participation, working to make better choices for our environment.

At Stan State, students are encouraged to take part in the Earth Day activities planned by Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) in their Warriors Giving Back Campaign.

Katie Rotan, ASI Interim Leadership & Student Government Manager, is in charge of organizing the Community Cleanup at Donnelly Park tomorrow. Students are encouraged to register here, this event will help beautify the community. 

Rotan explains how ASI has been campaigning the Earth Day event in the quad as, “It Should be Earth Day, Everyday.”

“We highly recommend students to sign up since it is a great opportunity to give back to our community and also network with Stan State Alumni,” Rotan said over email.

Rotan also discussed why Earth Day should be important to students. “Stan State students can make a difference in their community by signing up for events, such as Earth Day. It is great for Stan State students to feel involved and be a part of Turlock and our campus,” she said.

Rotan hopes to establish an environment that encourages students to be proud of Stan State and the community they are a part of.

“Students should feel proud to be a part of our surrounding community and help give back through clean up, repairs and beautification projects at Donnelly Park,” Rotan said.

Professor Costanza Zavalloni, professor of Agriculture, discusses how students can make an impact even through small actions but it all starts with awareness.

“If a student lives in Turlock and drives to school, maybe they should consider riding a bike instead. It’s good for your health and for reducing your carbon footprint. It is small things like this that will add up and make an impact,” Zavalloni said.

Professor Zavalloni mentions small changes on campus that could help the environment, such as providing more accessible recycling bins around campus and reducing the amount of printing in favor of more electronic alternatives that reduce the use of paper.

There are already practices of sustainability in place at Stan State, like the sustainable garden. The Agriculture Department provides fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown on campus to be purchased through StanFresh.

Rathmony Van (junior, Health Science) talks about the changes she has made in her life to make it more eco friendly.

“I recycle more and I always make sure to keep clean, like no littering. And I always bring reusable shopping bags when I go shopping.”

Being more environmentally friendly has inspired Van to begin gardening.

“I just started a garden so I am looking forward to seeing how everything turns out.”

It is small changes that make an impact and for the people of the Central Valley being more environmentally conscious is important.