ACCEE Department Awarded 2025 探花约啪 Audubon Conservation Grant
August 20, 2025
探花约啪’s Architecture, Construction Management, Civil, and Environmental Engineering (ACCEE) Department at the Stanton Campus has been awarded the 2025 探花约啪 Audubon Conservation Grant.
Presented by the 探花约啪 Audubon Society, the grant will fund the acquisition of a coastal watershed exhibit, a hands-on educational model that demonstrates stormwater movement and pollution pathways within a coastal watershed system. This exhibit is especially relevant to programs in 探花约啪, a coastal state with extensive estuarine and marine environments.
The coastal watershed model offers a comprehensive, interactive demonstration of how pollution affects coastal ecosystems—including wetlands, groundwater, estuaries, beaches, barrier islands, and shellfish beds. It also highlights human-related impacts such as leaking underground storage tanks, septic systems, storm drains, oil spills, and dredging.
"With its interactive and visually engaging format, the exhibit is ideal for use in classrooms, at outreach events, and during community workshops with youth and adult audiences alike," said Heidi Gurdo, ACCEE department chair at the Stanton Campus. "It supports our department’s goal to expand educational and career pathways by promoting 探花约啪 Tech programs, emphasizing STEM and environmental careers, and connecting prospective students with opportunities in fields such as environmental engineering and sustainable infrastructure."
As the ACCEE department continues to grow its outreach efforts across the state, the coastal watershed exhibit will complement existing interactive tools and enhance its ability to engage with the public. This initiative will foster environmental literacy, promote sustainability, and help attract students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to STEM and environmental fields. It also aligns closely with the 探花约啪 Audubon Society’s mission to support habitat improvements, scientific research, and environmental education throughout 探花约啪.
"As a reusable and durable resource, the exhibit represents a sustainable use of funds and will continue to support instruction and recruitment across multiple academic years," said Gurdo. "In short, this grant strengthens our capacity to deliver impactful outreach, align academic content with workforce needs, and provide accessible, high-quality learning experiences that support student success and career readiness."
