Spelman College Senior Deandra Smith Tackles Tough Environmental Issues

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ATLANTA, GA (08/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Did you know if a compact fluorescent light bulb breaks in your home there may be health complications? Environmental science major Deandra Smith spent her summer tackling such important environmental issues. As part of her internship experience with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NASA's Ames Research Center, the Detroit, MI native and more than 40 college students from around the country worked on innovative group projects aimed at solving environmental challenges.

For her project, Smith developed a childcare provider website complete with health questions and more general information including, how to properly clean up a CFL light bulb if one is broken, what to do if you have lead-based paint in your business, and information on how to attain a greening certificate to make daycare facilities more eco-friendly.

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a prestigious, highly selective, liberal arts college that prepares women to change the world. Located in Atlanta, Ga., this historically black college boasts an 83 percent graduation rate, and outstanding alumnae such as Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; former U.S. Foreign Service Director General Ruth Davis, authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage; and actress LaTanya Richardson. More than 85 percent of the full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other terminal degrees, and the average faculty to student ratio is 9:1. More than 2,100 students attend Spelman. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.