Release Date: May 2010
Press Inquiries:
Anita Gambill
(757) 486-9151 office
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – STIHL Inc. is proud to announce that John Maravich from Virginia Beach, Va., concluded his undergraduate research fellowship through Virginia Wesleyan College’s STIHL Inc. Endowment for Undergraduate Research. The endowment was part of a larger contribution by STIHL Inc. to Virginia Wesleyan College’s Key to the Future Campaign.
Maravich, a double major in earth and environmental sciences and history who is in the class of 2011 at Virginia Wesleyan, researched carbon footprint methodologies to produce an approved formula and baseline calculation of STIHL Inc.’s carbon footprint at its Virginia Beach facilities.
“Working with STIHL was a positive experience and will help me decide long term what kinds of career goals I want to work toward,” said Maravich, who has previously conducted research on the quality and levels of pollutants in runoff water through Wesleyan’s Green Roof Project. “At first, the research was on the daunting side because I had never done anything like this,” said Maravich. Maravich was assisted in his project by several members of STIHL’s operations department and members of STIHL’s energy and sustainability task forces.
Special Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Dr. Maynard Schaus, who serves as a faculty mentor for Maravich, said the fellowship with STIHL “is a great opportunity for Virginia Wesleyan students to pursue real-world solutions to problems.”
The STIHL Inc. Endowment for Undergraduate Research was established in November 2008. This three year endowment with the College is designed to provide financial resources for Virginia Wesleyan students to engage in research projects at the STIHL Inc. campus.
For his research, Maravich compared different types of approaches to carbon footprinting, and estimated the company’s carbon footprint based on a methodology using a modified version of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
“We are extremely pleased to be partnered with Virginia Wesleyan on this project,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. “The company’s position is one of socially responsible environmental stewardship in our equipment and our operations, and this program affords us an opportunity to work with local academia and move us forward in achieving our goals.”
STIHL Inc. is one of several manufacturing facilities in the STIHL Group. STIHL Inc. employs approximately 2,000 people nationwide in a variety of positions from product assembly, manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing, and finance. STIHL produces a full line of high-quality, handheld outdoor power equipment including the blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, and multi-task tools, as well as the number one selling brand of chain saw worldwide.
The goal of the Virginia Wesleyan College Key to the Future Campaign is to help fund the College’s vision of becoming a Phi Beta Kappa-caliber college. The Campaign is at 81% of its goal at $52.6 million on a goal of $65 million.
For more information about Virginia Wesleyan College and its Key to the Future Campaign, visit www.vwc.edu/campaign.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws, produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the U.S. only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL is pleased to support the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association Foundation (TCIAF), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).
