Spring Break
Changing the world, one bottle at a time
Think!BLUE group places third in SIFE national exposition, excelling in sustainability
Craig Bidiman
Issue date: 7/8/09 Section: News
The community seems to be getting a little greener thanks to a group of Oregon State students.
At the 2009 Students in Free Enterprise National Exposition in mid-June, the Oregon State chapter captured third place in the new competition based on waste management possibilities.
The group presented a sustainability project called Think!BLUE, their student-run business associated with SIFE, as a way to sell reusable water bottles and to raise awareness about water-related issues, while discouraging usage of disposable water bottles.
Group member sophomore Kelly Fitzpatrick explains that the group developed Think!BLUE at the response of a class project focused on green alternatives.
"We are very proud and excited of the progress that we have made in just a short amount of time," Fitzpatrick, an accounting and finance major, said. "Our group looks to help students get the experience of working for a real business."
Fitzpatrick went on to describe that the group had devised their project in winter term of 2008 and by March had a business plan prepared to market. By September of the same year, the group was already selling their brand of water bottles.
First Alternative Co-Op currently sells the bottles, as well as a number of other on-campus venues in association with the efforts of Think!BLUE.
"We are currently designing a number of other sustainable products in hopes of lessening our carbon footprint," Fitzpatrick said.
According to group member, sophomore Kim Pendergrass, hopes are high that the group can enter in next year's competition with more projects to help build their national recognition.
Fitzpatrick noted that the group has been looking into reusable shopping bags and coffee mugs, in addition to various new styles of water bottles to add to their project arsenal.
The group's third place finish at the national event, which was comprised of 107 universities around the country, came after their first place victory in the Regional event earlier in the year, as the group entered their water bottle proposal into the Topic and Special Competitions category. This was a new category this year.
At the 2009 Students in Free Enterprise National Exposition in mid-June, the Oregon State chapter captured third place in the new competition based on waste management possibilities.
The group presented a sustainability project called Think!BLUE, their student-run business associated with SIFE, as a way to sell reusable water bottles and to raise awareness about water-related issues, while discouraging usage of disposable water bottles.
Group member sophomore Kelly Fitzpatrick explains that the group developed Think!BLUE at the response of a class project focused on green alternatives.
"We are very proud and excited of the progress that we have made in just a short amount of time," Fitzpatrick, an accounting and finance major, said. "Our group looks to help students get the experience of working for a real business."
Fitzpatrick went on to describe that the group had devised their project in winter term of 2008 and by March had a business plan prepared to market. By September of the same year, the group was already selling their brand of water bottles.
First Alternative Co-Op currently sells the bottles, as well as a number of other on-campus venues in association with the efforts of Think!BLUE.
"We are currently designing a number of other sustainable products in hopes of lessening our carbon footprint," Fitzpatrick said.
According to group member, sophomore Kim Pendergrass, hopes are high that the group can enter in next year's competition with more projects to help build their national recognition.
Fitzpatrick noted that the group has been looking into reusable shopping bags and coffee mugs, in addition to various new styles of water bottles to add to their project arsenal.
The group's third place finish at the national event, which was comprised of 107 universities around the country, came after their first place victory in the Regional event earlier in the year, as the group entered their water bottle proposal into the Topic and Special Competitions category. This was a new category this year.
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