The Center for Sustainable Prac­tices at Vermont Technical College this week announces the college has developed a Sus­tainability Fel­lowship Program.

Vt. Tech President Phillip A. Con­roy appointed Michelle Girouard to fill the new one-year post beginning in September 2011. Girouard gradu­ated from Vt. Tech in 2011 with B.S. in sustainable design & technology.

A second fellow, Dan Aubin, was just appointed by Dr. Conroy, and his position will run from January through December 2012.

The new fellowship is an oppor­tunity for a Vt. Tech graduate from a baccalaureate degree program to work for the college on special initiatives in an area related to his or her academic concentration, through the Center for Sustainable Practices (CSP). The post will gen­erally be filled by a single graduate each year.

A Lebanon, N.H. native, Girouard has called Vermont home since her time at Vt. Tech, earning her Associ­ate’s degree in landscape develop­ment and ornamental horticulture in 2005.

Donna Barlow Casey, CSP di­rector, said that “Michelle brings a fresh perspective to the CSP and a direct connection to the student body and academic programs.

“This will be especially helpful as we begin an effort to reduce the College’s energy consumption by 5% and look for student ideas and involvement to achieve that goal.”

“I see this fellowhship as pro­viding the support to help me nar­row my career focus and find my passion, while contributing to Vt. Tech’s effort to create a more sus­tainable campus environ­ment.” Gi­rouard said.

The Sustainability Fellow is re­sponsible for managing core CSP programs, such as annual film and lecture offerings, discussion cours­es, and environmental awareness training.

Sustainability Fellow Dan Au­bin is a Norwich, Conn., resident who earned two bachelor degrees during his four years at Vermont Tech—in architectural engineering tech­nology and sustainable design and technology.

With his particular interest in historical preservation and archi­tecture, Aubin’s work will focus on the Allen House renovation proj­ect, assisting with curriculum revi­sion on a solar energy course, and serving as a teaching assistant in Prof. Ward Joyce’s class on green building technology.

Aubin became a certified LEED Green Associate with the U.S. Green Building Council as a stu­dent, and hopes to encourage oth­er students to achieve the same credential.