Winter 2019 - Inside Outdoor Magazine

Inside Outdoor | winter 2019 45 Making an Impact Learning the fundamental aspects of design and development is important, but it’s only one part of the puzzle for students. To succeed in this industry, graduating students will need to look beyond their core competencies and address a range of hot-button issues. Sustainability, for instance, is now a primary objective for the majority of out- door companies, many of which are just as concerned about their role in protect- ing the environment as they are turning profits. In a recent OIA study, 87 percent of companies said they use the Higg In- dex to guide benchmarking and internal discussions, while 63 percent are invest- ing in renewable energy. Seventy-five percent of companies have at least one employee responsible for sustainability. OPDD sprinkles in sustainability throughout its agenda, so that students receive formal training on environmen- tal topics. Students are taught how to make products that last longer and how to design truly sustainable products. “It’s not enough for our students to just go out and make products,” Ander- son added. “We have a lot of students who come through the program who are very sustainability minded and think they will come in to design cool products that get people outside. Then they realize there are a lot of items that don’t need to exist and are actually contributing more to the problem.” Another critical issue that the program is teaching is inclusion, as the industry is becoming increasingly open and di- verse. Program administrators are now collaborating with Camber Outdoors, an organization that is working to advance inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Students also are getting involved. A group of students, for instance, recently joined together and created the Outdoor Women’s Association, a club designed to bring in female guest speakers, share lessons and discuss opportunities for women in the industry. “Equity is such a big issue,” Ander- son said. “We as a university have an opportunity to provide training and to be a gateway where students can learn key skills that enable them to go on and be successful in the industry. “We are just getting started, but we’re really excited about these oppor- tunities and realize that we have a part to play in many of the larger issues the industry is now facing — even just by being someone’s first point of contact in the industry,” he continued. “We are looking to drive the message home that students really can work for a Pa- tagonia or a Black Diamond.” OPDD to Host Spring Exhibit Right now the program is gearing up for its first-ever senior exhibit, which will be paired with the college’s annual advi- sory board meeting. The public and the outdoor industry are invited to come to- gether and see what students have been working on during the last four years. For attending companies, the ex- hibit will be an excellent chance to meet with students and conduct inter- views with potential hires. This event will take place on Friday, April 12, at USU’s Daines Concert Hall. Anderson, for that matter, is not concerned about where students will wind up after graduation, having spent the last four years watching them grow and excel. Several students already have landed internships at companies such as Patagonia and Colombia, and one student even left the program early to take a full-time position. “The fact that we’ve had a student at Patagonia two summers in a row speaks volumes about what we are doing,” Anderson said. “The company receives thousands of applications for just a few internships. “The industry has been so good to us already and so supportive,” Anderson said. “My one request is to keep an eye out for the students, and watch what they do. I hope the industry continues to embrace them. I have already seen that happen a little bit. I think our program will be very important moving forward because we are so intertwined with the industry and our curriculum is spot-on. We are training students for jobs, which doesn’t happen all the time.” m The Advocates LIGHTWEIGHT • COMFORTABLE • PACKABLE Kelly McCue overlooking the Grand Canyon from the South Kaibab Trail north of Kahtoola headquarters in Flagsta‚, AZ.