DATE: June 18, 2008
CONTACT:
Chelsea Reighard, (864) 650-5506
creigha@g.clemson.edu
WRITER:
Angela Nixon, (864) 656-0382
anixon@clemson.edu
Clemson’s Habitat for Humanity named Campus Chapter of the Year
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter has been named Campus Chapter of the Year by Habitat for Humanity International.
Clemson’s chapter was selected for its strong relationship with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity affiliate and for being a leader in green building practices.
Last year the chapter sponsored a design contest with Clemson’s Emerging Green Builders as a service-learning project for architecture, landscape architecture and construction science students. Students designed environmentally friendly houses, and the winning design, named “Green House,” was constructed at 101 Zion Street in Easley. The chapter now is working on a house that will apply for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. That house is under construction at 225 Stephens Road in Clemson. It will be the first Habitat house in South Carolina to be LEED certified.
“This award is certainly a testament to the dedication of Clemson students to provide affordable housing to the local community. I am honored to be a part of this enthusiastic group of student leaders who do not settle for mediocrity,” said Chelsea Reighard, 2007-2008 president of Habitat for Humanity at Clemson and a Clemson native who graduated in May with degrees in genetics and language and international health.
The award comes with a $20,000 grant that the chapter can use to participate in a Global Village trip to another country.
“This grant will allow our chapter to reach beyond our corner of South Carolina and give Clemson students an opportunity to fulfill Habitat for Humanity's mission in an international setting,” Reighard said.
The LEED house will be the chapter’s 27th house. The chapter has built more houses than any other campus Habitat for Humanity chapter in the nation.
Clemson’s Habitat for Humanity chapter also was honored this year by Clemson’s community service office with the Outstanding Service Collaboration Award for its partnerships with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity chapter and YouthBuild, a local organization that works with high school dropouts.