UW-Eau Claire news release

Tara Young was the winner of this year's "Just Bag It" sustainable fashion show.

EAU CLAIRE — Tara Young, Saint Cloud, Minn., a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire freshman representing Towers Hall, was the winner of the "Just Bag It" sustainability fashion show held in April in honor of Earth Day.

The purpose of the event was to draw students' attention to the importance of recycling and repurposing items instead of throwing them away.

Young's winning costume included a repurposed umbrella with rubber glove embellishments for the skirt, a recycling insignia made from a bicycle inner tube, dryer sheets on the underskirt and bottle cap high heels to finish off the look.

For receiving first place, Towers Hall will have two smart strips installed in each room in the hall. The strips reduce energy use by stopping phantom loads, which is energy pulled from electronic devices after they are turned off.

Second place was awarded to Oakridge Hall, Governor's Hall received third place and Bridgman Hall was awarded honorable mention.

Tara Young

The event was judged by Chuck Major, director of Housing and Residence Life; Dr. Beth Hellwig, vice chancellor of Student Affairs; and Dr. Jim Boulter, UW-Eau Claire's sustainability fellow.

The event was sponsored by Housing and Residence Life.

For more information about this event or other sustainability initiatives in Housing and Residence Life at UW-Eau Claire, contact Kate Hartsel, housing sustainability coordinator, at 715-836-2505 or hartseka@uwec.edu.

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JT/JB/DW