UCF hosted one of the 1,500 simultaneous Focus the Nation educational events throughout the country Thursday supporting climate change and environmental awareness.

Organizers aimed to challenge students, citizens, civic organizations and businesses to find and implement global warming solutions within their communities.

The Pegasus Ballroom at UCF's Student Union hosted exhibits featuring eco-friendly organizations, a screening area with environmental films and an area where UCF professors and other guest speakers took the stage to address issues such as climate shifts, polar bears, and global warming. Outside of the ballroom, tours were offered of the Student Union's green roof, and alternative-fuel vehicles were on display.

Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and state Sen. Lee Constantine, both UCF alumni, headlined a news conference announcing plans to build the largest solar array in the southeastern United States on top of the Orange County Convention Center. Researchers at UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center are playing an integral role in the construction and monitoring of the rooftop solar photovoltaic system.

Crotty said he was pleased to see so many students attending an event focused on climate change. Many students helped faculty organizers, led by Penelope Canan of Sociology, ensure that UCF had a strong presence in the national program.

Focus the Nation events nationwide kicked off Wednesday evening at UCF's Cocoa campus with a panel discussion of climate change issues with Canan and other scientists, experts and youth leaders. A Web cast of that discussion can be viewed at www.earthdaytv.net.

Thursday's keynote speaker, L. Hunter Lovins, discussed the importance of sustainability and climate protection in the business world. She declared that the issue of the environment "is not a red (Republican) or blue (Democratic) issue, it's a red, white and blue issue." Lovins also called for people to implement climate protection programs in their communities.

Members of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) celebrated Focus the Nation Thursday morning by planting a tabebuia tree next to the gazebo in front of Howard Phillips Hall. A plaque will be placed by the tree commemorating Focus the Nation. ISA members also helped to unveil a new specialty license plate featuring a tree and the slogan "TreesAreCool." For more information, visit www.treesarecool.com.

Alaina Bernard, assistant director of UCF's Environmental Center, spoke at the tree planting ceremony and mentioned that "trees help bring people together." In the coming months, students will benefit from the shade offered by the new tree and enjoy the sense of community that many students feel when congregating under the trees around campus.

Exhibitors at Focus the Nation included Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Florida Solar Energy Center, Student Sustainability Alliance and the City of Orlando.

Brian Wormwood, assistant director of UCF's Physical Plant, encouraged attendees to recycle at a booth that featured several recycling containers. The UCF Center for Energy and Sustainability displayed a 2007 Toyota Prius that employees converted into a plug-in hybrid vehicle for limited all-electric driving.

Crotty and Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal were among the many attendees who toured the green roof on top of the Student Union expansion. The roof, one of two on UCF's campus, features several Florida-native plants, including coral honeysuckle and Simpson's stopper. The plants reduce storm-water runoff from the roof and help to keep the roof much cooler during warm weather, in addition to extending the life of the roof. The UCF Stormwater Management Academy and Environmental Center maintain the roof.

UCF professors who gave presentations Thursday included Peter Jacques of Political Science, Jane Waterman and John Weishampel of Biology and Ron Eaglin of Engineering Technology.

Focus the Nation's climate change theme coincided with UCF's emphasis on the environment in the classroom and facilities. The university's current general education undergraduate unifying theme focuses on the environment and global climate change.

UCF President John Hitt is a member of the leadership circle of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, which strives to reduce campus emissions of greenhouse gases. The university will construct all new buildings -- including the College of Medicine at Lake Nona -- to at least the silver standard of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

The gold sponsors for the UCF Focus the Nation events were the UCF Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies, Orange County, the City of Orlando, the Orlando Utilities Commission, the Global Green Alliance, Progress Energy, the UCF Department of Sociology and the UCF Global Perspectives Office.

For more information on Focus the Nation activities throughout the nation, go to www.focusthenation.org. Go to www.ftncf.org for more information on the UCF event.