http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/deer_park/living/young-innovator-lin-set-to-speak-at-san-jacinto-college/article_1ea99d1b-b620-5d9b-bf93-492269ee6a06.html
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Young innovator Lin set to speak at San Jacinto College
PRESS RELEASE
Posted: Thursday, February 12, 2015 4:00 pm
PRESS RELEASE
Young environmentalist and innovator, Cassandra Lin, will guest lecture
at the San Jacinto College Central Campus on Monday, Feb. 16.
In 2008, after visiting the Energy Solutions Expo at University of Rhode
Island, Lin learned that biodiesel, an alternative energy, could be
produced from waste cooking oil. Soon afterward, she came across an
article in the local paper describing the state’s high unemployment rate
affecting many families in her hometown of Westerly, Rhode Island, who
were struggling to heat their homes. Seeing this need firsthand inspired
Lin and a team of friends, then fifth graders, to start Project TGIF
(Turn Grease Into Fuel). Project TGIF is an innovative system that
collects grease from residents and restaurants, has it converted into
biodiesel, and then distributes biofuel to local families for emergency
heating assistance.
Today, the project is a huge success with 132 restaurants participating
in the program and 22 residential recycling sites in three states. TGIF
is able to heat the homes of 80 families annually. Additionally, Lin and
her team helped introduce and pass a Used Cooking Oil Recycling Act in
the state of Rhode Island, which mandates that all businesses recycle
their waste oil. Governor Chafee signed the bill into law in July 2011.
To date, TGIF has collected more than 180,000 gallons of grease,
generated 150,000 gallons of biodiesel, and donated 40,000 gallons of
BioHeat (valued at approximately $152,000) to heat the homes of 400
local families. According to the EPA’s calculations, the project has
offset 3 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
Due to Project TGIF’s success, Lin has been invited to speak at both
national and international events such as the TEDxEast conference in New
York City; the Global Issues Service Summit in Nairobi, Kenya and
Luxemburg; and was invited by the United Nations Environmental Program
(UNEP) to give two workshops to children and youth in Bandung, Indonesia
during the UNEP TUNZA Conference for Children and Youth on the
Environment. Lin has also been named one of the Top Ten Volunteers of
the Year in 2011 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; a 2012
Young Wonder by CNN Heroes; honored at the 2013 Jefferson Awards; and
named one of The 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People by Youth
Service America and Huffington Post in 2012. She is also a Brower Youth
Award recipient for her environmental work in 2013, and was recently
honored by Nickelodeon as a HALO honoree in November 2014.
Cassandra Lin will speak at the San Jacinto College Central Campus on
Monday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m., in Slocomb Auditorium (building 12). This
event is sponsored by the San Jacinto College Service-Learning Committee
and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), and is
free and open to the public.
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