At the Governor's Sustainability Awards Luncheon: Ted Wheeler, state treasurer; Paul Hogan, principal of Jesuit High School; Andrea Casey, the school’s Christian service associate; Shannon Shelburne, a Spanish teacher; Jennie Kuenz, a physics teacher; John Gladstone, school president; Mira Petrillo, Jesuit senior and co-president of the Green Team; and Gabriela Goldfarb, Gov. Kate Brown's environmental policy advisor.
At the Governor's Sustainability Awards Luncheon: Ted Wheeler, state treasurer; Paul Hogan, principal of Jesuit High School; Andrea Casey, the school’s Christian service associate; Shannon Shelburne, a Spanish teacher; Jennie Kuenz, a physics teacher; John Gladstone, school president; Mira Petrillo, Jesuit senior and co-president of the Green Team; and Gabriela Goldfarb, Gov. Kate Brown's environmental policy advisor.
BEAVERTON — Jesuit High School was honored for its commitment to sustainable practices at the Governor's Sustainability Awards Luncheon Dec. 9. The award recognizes organizations that go beyond requirements. As innovators in their fields, they show that becoming more sustainable is not in conflict with achieving the organization's core mission.

One of four winners, and the only school, Jesuit has made an effort to exemplify and teach care for the environment.

The school's newest building, the Elorriaga Center for Science and Mathematics, has units that control the amount of fresh and heated air delivered to each room. The sale of plastic water bottles is banned from the school's cafeteria and vending machines, and the school takes steps to reduce and recycle waste and to prevent air pollution from idling cars.

"In a very healthy and positive way, Jesuit students and teachers have pushed us to take seriously our role as caretakers of creation," says Paul Hogan, principal. "We carefully monitor and seek to reduce energy use, teach environmental responsibility, and recognize that our actions impact people all over the world — as well as people yet to be born. We are proud of this award, but realize that as leaders in non-profit sustainability, we all have a lot more work to do.”

Gov. Ted Kulongoski created the Sustainability Awards in 2006.

"Besides wise stewardship of natural resources, Jesuit demonstrates a commitment to social sustainability with programs that promote healthy choices and relationships, and service to socially and economically vulnerable people in Portland," writes Governor Kate Brown in her congratulatory letter.

“We live in an amazing state that prides itself on being a national leader in its sustainability efforts," says Shannon Shelburne, Jesuit High School Spanish teacher and one of the main leaders of sustainability efforts on campus. "Jesuit has come a long way in changing the culture of our school community to always consider how our choices and actions have a larger effect on the environment. We are striving to find more ways that we can continue this movement."

Jesuit High was founded in 1956 by the Society of Jesus. It enrolls almost 1,300 students.