Dr. Valerie Roberson, President of Roxbury Community College, Receives Prestigious Leventhal Award from A Better City

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dr. Valerie Roberson, president of Roxbury Community College (RCC), is being awarded a 2018 Leventhal Award for her leadership of RCC’s recently completed Renewable Energy Project. Dr. Roberson joins Robin Chase, co-founder of Zipcar and Veniam and Ronald Druker, president of The Druker Company, Ltd, in receiving awards at tonight’s Leventhal Awards Ceremony.

This award recognizes RCC’s Renewable Energy Project, which was completed in partnership with Ameresco, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) as a part of a $72.5 million campus-wide renovation project. The $20.1 million energy project included 23 unique energy-saving initiatives.

“I am deeply honored to receive a Leventhal Award from A Better City, on behalf of Roxbury Community College,” says Dr. Roberson. “I’m proud of the fact that this energy project enhances both the student experience and the environmental quality of the entire Roxbury Community. I look forward to growing our green initiatives over the coming years.”

The most recognizable component of RCC’s energy project is the 3,000-panel solar canopy that was constructed above Parking Lot #1. Since the start of 2018, the canopy has produced 777,313 kWh of energy, the amount of energy required to power 70 homes in a year. Overall, the Renewable Energy Project is projected to save the College $860,000 annually in energy costs.

“On behalf of A Better City’s leadership, I would like to congratulate Valerie Roberson on receiving the Norman B. Leventhal Excellence in City Building Award in the area of the environment,” says President & CEO Rick Dimino. “Dr. Roberson has shown incredible vision as she leads Roxbury Community College with forward-thinking technology that also demonstrates her commitment to the environment. As a result of her hard work, the solar energy systems employed at Roxbury Community College and its renewable energy platform are unique among the community colleges nationally.”

In addition to the environmental benefits of this project, the energy enhancements have yielded educational benefits. RCC is now working with a consortium of industry leaders, including Skanska and Boston Medical Center, on developing the curriculum for a new Associate Degree in Smart Building Technology.

“On behalf of the Roxbury Community College Board of Trustees, I applaud and congratulate Dr. Valerie Roberson on receiving a Leventhal Award,” says Board of Trustees Chairman Gerald Chertavian. “We are proud of Dr. Roberson’s work to build a strong environment for the College and Greater Boston.”

The Roxbury Community College community is proud of the environmental improvements on campus and pleased that Dr. Roberson is being honored for her work with a Leventhal Award. The Leventhal Awards are named in memory of A Better City’s founding director, Norman B. Leventhal. The Excellence in City Building Awards recognizes the leaders and innovators who have made significant contributions to our built environment in the areas of Transportation, Land Development, and the Environment. The 2018 Awards Ceremony will take place at the Boston Harbor Hotel, at 6:00 pm.

For more information about the Leventhal Awards, visit http://www.abettercity.org/news-and-events/events/norman-b.-leventhal-awards.

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