CINCINNATI, OH (October 7, 2024) - The Hamilton County Recycling Resource has awarded Saint Ursula Academy the 513 Green Certification based on its commitment to sustainable actions, waste diversion, water conservation, and energy conservation.
As a Catholic school, Saint Ursula Academy has long been known for its commitment to protecting God’s creation as one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, we are encouraged to “show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the Earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation.” Saint Ursula has been certified as a Fair Trade School and has won numerous Laudado Si awards over the years.
Saint Ursula Academy Mark Science Teacher and Earth Club Moderator Mark Simcoe was notified of the 513 Green certification in August.
When presenting the certification, 513 Green stated, “Saint Ursula Academy has been actively improving sustainability on campus with various initiatives each year. They have organized waste-sorting stations in the cafeteria that are monitored by staff and students, the cafeteria food scraps are composted through GoZero, they collect special items for recycling at the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, they have reusable plates and utensils in the cafeteria, they established a large pollinator garden that is often used for teaching, and they incorporate sustainability into class projects and encourage students to share ideas for a more green campus.”
Additional initiatives being explored by Saint Ursula Academy include volunteering at Last Mile Food Rescue, partnering with La Soupe, and installing Solar Panels on campus.
About Saint Ursula Academy
Saint Ursula Academy is a dynamic Catholic, college-preparatory, educational community for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. Saint Ursula welcomes students from more than 90 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. Saint Ursula was named #1 Best All-Girls School in Cincinnati by Niche.com and Best Workplace in Ohio by Ohio Business Magazine in 2023 and 2024. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of Saint Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. The Class of 2024 earned college scholarship offers totaling more than $26-million.