Lou Robinson, Vice President Engagement for the OU Students Association, has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards.
Lou is one of only nine individual students to be chosen as a finalist, with most of the finalist places going to university projects throughout the UK and Ireland.
Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by universities and colleges. The Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best sustainability practice within the further and higher education sector.
It's extra-special for Lou to be selected this year, as it is the 20th anniversary of the Green Gown Awards.
The selection of Lou as a finalist is recognition of the work she has done with the Association's Environment and Sustainability Working Group. Lou was instrumental in the forming of the Group in September 2022, which aims to recognise environment and sustainability-related issues, discuss what the Association and University can improve on, and create events and campaigns.
As co-chair of the Group, Lou has helped to raise the profile of the environment and sustainabiliy in the Open University, with the creation of an environment and sustainability hub, an increased presence at Freshers, and a fantastic result in the Student Union and Student Representation categories in the People and Planet League (which grades universities for their publicly-available environmental and ethical performance).
133 finalist spots have been awarded for the Green Gown Awards, representing 84 institutions. The full list of the finalists can be found on the Green Gown Awards website.
Along with her other finalists, Lou is now in the process of submitting her stage 2 application, with judging taking place in October. The winners of 2024 Green Gown Awards will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 13 November in Edinburgh.
Congratulations Lou!