University graduate student Stuart Adams has been awarded a $25,000 grant as a finalist in the Pepsi Refresh Project’s Do Good for the Gulf program.
The Do Good for the Gulf program aimed to help Gulf Coast states affected by the BP oil spill in April. The Pepsi Refresh Project is investing an additional $1.3 million in the project.
The Pepsi Refresh Project will award more than $20 million in grants this year. The winners are decided by vote on the project’s website. The project has several categories — arts and culture, food and shelter, neighborhoods, education and the planet, and health.
Adams’ program will develop a hurricane hazard mitigation plan for three Louisiana schools on the kindergarten through 12th grade level.
Adams said the idea for his project came from desire to help areas affected by the BP oil spill prepare a plan in case of a hurricane.
“It helps fit the needs of the community and rules of the contest,” Adams said.
Adams said the official rules say a project must do something for the areas affected by the BP oil spill other than aiding wildlife to help the community. His plan will help reduce the risk of damage and school closures because of hurricanes.
Adams said he heard about the project on the blog GOOD.is.
The project sparked from Pepsi’s 2009 initiative Refresh Everything and has awarded $10.6 million in grants since January.
Adams is ranked sixth of 73 competitors on the $25,000 level of the program. The top 10 finalists on the $5,000, $25,000 and $50,000 level and the top two finalists on the $250,000 level were awarded grants.
Competitors on the $5,000 level are individuals, and the $25,000 level consists of individuals in small groups. For $50,000, companies and organizations competed, while only organizations participated on the $250,000 level.
The program’s approval of the budgets and plans of the 32 finalists will be announced Sept. 22.
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]