Youngstown News
Campus News & Events
Environmentally Sound
In May, students in Instructor BJ Arnold's Environmental Science class at the Youngstown Campus enjoyed a guest speaker from Iceland for a week. Berglind Olinudottir (right) visited the campus and spoke to students about many environmental issues including the recent volcanic activity in her home country. Berglind has a PhD in tour guide studies and is very knowledgeable about the ecological, geological, and environmental aspects of her homeland. In 2007, BJ (left) was on a 10-day trip to Iceland and met Berglind on a tour; they instantly became friends and BJ invited her to visit Ohio in the USA.
Walking around the campus and speaking to the environmental science classes, Berglind summarizes her thoughts that National College is "an amazing place." She is thrilled to see the diversity of students here and thanks the school for offering a class in environmental science. She said she appreciates the integrity of the school for having such a class in their curriculum.
BJ said, "My students have been receptive, engaged and fun to have in the classroom. I have actually learned as much from them as they have from me." Her aim in class is not to turn the students into "tree huggers" but to teach them how to reduce their ecological footprint. She hopes to make a real difference in people's lives and for the planet. According to Health Information Technology student Kadeja Johnson, the guest speaker's visit was very informative: "She gave us a brief history of Iceland and had an excellent slide show depicting the recent volcanic eruptions." What she learned in this class made such an impression on Kadeja that she immediately started recycling. She said that this experience is one more example of why she values the education she is getting at National College.
