Kierra Walsh: Helped launch UML Green Roofs
It didn鈥檛 take long for Kierra Walsh to realize she liked the idea of the聽DifferenceMaker听辫谤辞驳谤补尘.
鈥淚t was at freshman orientation,鈥� says the biology major. She formed a team that came up with an idea for UML Green Roofs, which would help the university meet its carbon neutrality goal while offering green space and a tranquil place for students to hang out.聽
Walsh is no slacker (she鈥檚 graduating after three years), and she and her team of like-minded students earned fan favorite honors at the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge. The Green Roofs project also earned fan votes during a mini DifferenceMaker competition during Convocation.
In all, they snagged $1,500 from DifferenceMaker contests 鈥� 鈥渆nough to get started with,鈥� she says. Her team of six has been meeting with representatives from the university鈥檚 Facilities Management Department and the Office of Sustainability, and together they identified the lower roof at Fox Hall as ideal for the 鈥渧ery large-scale鈥� project. The green space will feature large planters and picnic tables where students can relax or study.聽
Walsh doesn鈥檛 expect construction to begin for 鈥渁nother three or four years,鈥� but the team will soon choose a designer for the space.
In addition to the green rooftops, Walsh is leaving a second legacy on campus: As president and acting coach of the UML Swim and Dive Team, she helped revive the moribund group.聽
鈥淲hen we were freshmen, it was just me and my best friend on the team,鈥� says Walsh. 鈥淲e had to rebuild.鈥� The next year, she attracted 15 team members, and this year, there were 30.
In the fall, Walsh is off to Tufts for a four-year veterinary program. She plans on keeping tabs on the progress of the UML Green Roofs project.
聽鈥淚鈥檓 certainly not far away, and I鈥檒l definitely come back,鈥� she says.