For 爱污传媒 Judy Genshaft Honors College affiliate faculty member Dr. Al Blanchard, sustainability education isn鈥檛 confined to a single field 鈥 it鈥檚 a mission that spans disciplines.
After serving 24 years in the military in aeronautical and medical roles, earning
a PhD in mechanical engineering, conducting research at NASA, and pursuing graduate-level
study across multiple disciplines, Blanchard has an approach to education rooted in
interdisciplinary thinking and professional application.
While teaching at the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Blanchard recognized students鈥
strong desire to pursue sustainability projects that create bold, meaningful change.
Now, through a generous gift to the college, he is helping turn those student visions
into reality.
A Prize That Inspires
The Blanchard Sustainability Leadership Prize (BSL Prize) provides two students each fall and spring semester with up to $5,000 to create and execute a sustainability project of their own design that addresses one or more of and to present their research at a professional sustainability conference.
As part of the BSL Prize application, students will submit a detailed project proposal and budget to build their project management skills. The long-term goal of the BSL Prize is to inspire students to pursue careers in or related to sustainability and to provide a unique opportunity for them to network with professionals and scholars at a sustainability conference of their choosing.
Through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, students can
connect their area of study 鈥 regardless of major 鈥 to sustainability issues such
as climate action, poverty, public health, responsible consumption, quality education
and many others.
When asked why he founded the Blanchard Sustainability Prize, 鈥淒r. Al鈥 said the award
was inspired by his students鈥 desire to take positive action rather than just contemplate
sustainability issues.
鈥淚 want Honors students to make their visions for sustainability projects a reality and to transform their academic knowledge into action that will positively impact our world,鈥 said Blanchard. 鈥淭hey know the stakes for humanity and our planet, and the vital importance of creating a sustainable future so that we can all live in harmony on a finite, vibrant planet forever.鈥
Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future
Blanchard is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, a goal that
motivated him to become an assistant professor of aerospace science, training U.S.
Air Force cadets at USF from 2013-2016. He wants to empower the college to support
student projects with funding and to encourage USF faculty to mentor students as they
grow into sustainability leaders.
鈥淜nowing the cost, performance, and schedule of your sustainability project is essential
to its success, as is the personal drive to overcome inevitable setbacks that occur
whenever anyone takes action to change systems or create new ones,鈥 said Blanchard.
鈥淚'm not just funding their projects 鈥 I'll also be a resource students can count
on when they need guidance or encouragement.鈥
Al Blanchard (left) and Clara Villanueva (right) in the Judy Genshaft Honors College
Long-Term Impact
Honors College Senior Director of Development Clara Villanueva anticipates the BSL
Prize impacting multiple cycles of students.
鈥淏ecause the gift is committed over three years, we鈥檒l be able to see the long-term
impact of this kind of funding on our students,鈥 Villanueva said. 鈥淥ur goal is for
student ideas to get bigger and bolder every year. It has the potential to benefit
Honors and the broader university community for years to come.鈥
Blanchard鈥檚 gift extends beyond individual awards, creating a pathway for students
to explore innovative solutions to sustainability challenges with professional support
and adding to the learning experiences the college already provides under its commitment to sustainable futures.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we build sustainability leaders now if we want to live well on
a finite planet forever,鈥 Blanchard said. 鈥淚 see the Blanchard Sustainability Leadership
Prize as a vital investment in our future, and I鈥檓 excited to see what our incredible
Honors students come up with over the next three years.鈥
Learn more about the Blanchard Sustainability Leadership Prize on the Honors website.