Press Releases

Rosemont College Goes for Green with RecycleMania Program

Rosemont, PA - Rosemont College joined 510 schools participating in RecycleMania, a nationwide recycling competition supported by the Environmental Protection Agency. Rosemont’s participation in RecycleMania, which ran from Jan. 18- Mar. 28, was part of the College’s ongoing effort to become a more environmentally-friendly institution.

Rosemont placed first on the list of Pennsylvania schools participating in the ‘Waste Minimization’ category of the competition, which also included larger institutions such as Drexel University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, and Bucknell University. Students at Rosemont produced the least amount of solid waste, at roughly 14 lbs per person. Additionally, the College achieved a 28.34% recycling rate.

As part of the its involvement in the category, Rosemont pledged to work with vendors to reduce transportation packaging, create a system to report wasteful practices on campus, and institute an active program to educate the campus about waste minimization practices.

“Rosemont understands the importance of waste management and a recycling program that will effectively reduce the amount of waste produced by the campus,” said Tom Szatkowski, Rosemont College Director of Facility Services. “By taking part in RecycleMania and making the campus community conscious of their impact on the environment, the College was able to raise awareness for an important cause.”

RecycleMania is a 10-week competition that aims to promote waste reduction activities on college and university campuses. Schools report recycling and trash data, which are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per person, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per person, and the highest recycling rate.

Rosemont, PA, July 2009 – Parkhurst Dining Services is proud to begin dining services and catering this fall for Rosemont College of Rosemont, PA, where students, faculty and staff will experience fresh, delicious, and prepared-from-scratch foods by our world-class chefs.

Parkhurst was selected because of its commitment to using high quality ingredients in the preparation of meals and their support of sustainable activities. “Our students liked the ‘fresh, made from scratch’ concept and look forward to new food offerings this fall,” says Mary Beth Tsikalas, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Rosemont College.

The preparation of farm-fresh foods is a Parkhurst hallmark. Foods are procured through Parkhurst-developed FarmSource, a sustainable sourcing program that initiates partnerships with some of the finest farmers in the communities we service to obtain high quality, farm-fresh foods for our customers, while we support the continued growth for local agriculture by more than 20%.

In addition to FarmSource, Parkhurst also supports its clients’ sustainable efforts with several other initiatives including on-site vegetable gardens and composting, recycling of spent-fryer oil used to help produce bio-diesel fuel, a switch to biodegradable corn-based plastic cup and lid products, and replacing Styrofoam service ware with reusable dishware and china.

As their new partner, Parkhurst is proud to assist in the planning and design of the new Community Centre, a transformational “public square” featuring the dining hall, café, bookstore, student lounge and multi-purpose community spaces. Guests here may choose from a variety of options including Bravisimo, cooked-to-order fajitas, stir-fries, pasta, grains, and rice dishes from around the world; the Parkside Diner, home-style and ethnic-style foods prepared with traditional ingredients; Pepperazzi, made-from-scratch fresh-dough pizzas, calzones, and strombolis; and the Milk Shake Bar, serving real old fashioned milk shakes made from real ice cream and dairy fresh milk.

An all you care to eat restaurant-style buffet will be served every Sunday in the Cardinal Hall Dining Room where students will enjoy chef carved roasted meats, sumptuous entrees and side dishes, omelets-made-to order, a waffle bar with favorite toppings, an array of composed salads and fresh fruits accompanied by imported and domestic cheeses, and an extensive selection of homemade breads and desserts. Guests at The Rosemont Grill Café will also enjoy the rich creamy taste and quality of a classic ice cream parlor shake along with a selection of frozen cappuccinos and real fruit smoothies.

Since nutrition and wellness continues to be a top priority for college and university administrators, Parkhurst food choices become a major piece to their healthier lifestyle. In the process, Parkhurst offers Whole Body Cuisine, a line of exceptional meals that balance fat, calories and sodium, but still create naturally nourishing and fabulous tasting meals. In response to the demand for more vegan and vegetarian offerings, Crunch, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, will provide nutritionally sound offerings utilizing seasonal local fruits and vegetables.

Other program highlights include Hemisflavors, a concept that features over 1,000 fresh global cuisine recipes, prepared authentically with raw ingredients indigenous of Brazil, Greece, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand and Vietnam.

About Parkhurst Dining Services
Parkhurst Dining Services provides exceptional culinary experiences and dining services to guests at the finest educational institutions, corporations and cultural destinations in its marketing region. While we continue to expand our role as a sustainable organization, our foundation is built on personal relationships and exceeding the expectations of our guests and associates every day. www.parkhurstdining.com

About Rosemont College

Founded in 1921 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Rosemont College is an independent, coeducational liberal arts institution in the Catholic tradition located on the Main Line, 11 miles west of Philadelphia, on the border of Montgomery and Delaware Counties. The nationally-acclaimed, traditional Undergraduate College confers B.A., B.S., and B.F.A. degrees in twenty-one majors. Rosemont College also includes the Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies, which are open to both women and men. Visit us at www.rosemont.edu