"Being a sustainability scholar at Mount Mercy was more than encouraging recycling on campus, rather, it was an insightful experience that every student should have the pleasure of experiencing," said Wherry. "Scholars were encouraged to think and incorporate the Sisters of Mercy’s critical concerns and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into the curriculum being taught and our everyday lives."

"Mount Mercy’s sustainability program proved that sustainability is an achievable goal that requires a paradigm shift," Wherry continued. "This shift is begins at the age where us young adults are capable of making decisions on our own for OUR future. Sustainability at Mount Mercy does a phenomenal job educating students on environmental concerns, social injustice, and sustainable practices. I attribute the success of the sustainability program, the projects planned, and the continuous educational experience to Rachael Murtaugh and Ricardo Etienne."