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Graduate Student Brings Traveling “LOVE” Sculpture to VWU
Sarah Sterzing ’25 leads effort to promote campus recycling and sustainability awareness
University News | October 8, 2025
Thanks to the efforts of Virginia Wesleyan University graduate student Sarah Sterzing, a striking recycled-materials sculpture that spells out the word LOVE is now on display in the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. On loan for several weeks, the piece is part of the regional “Start Smart, Recycle Right” campaign, designed to inspire awareness and action around recycling and sustainability.
Sterzing, who will graduate in December with a Master of Environmental Studies degree, currently serves as director and program manager for Keep Norfolk Beautiful, where she leads initiatives that promote environmental stewardship.
“I’m excited to share that Virginia Wesleyan University is officially the first college campus to host the traveling, recycling-themed LOVE sculpture,” said Sterzing. “It was created by students from the College & Career Academy at Pruden (CCAP), part of Suffolk Public Schools’ technical education program.”
The sculpture was crafted by Tom Shirk and his welding students at CCAP and selected following a regional call for artists by askHRgreen.org, the public education and outreach initiative of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC). The project was funded through a recycling partnership supported by all 17 localities in the district.
Using welded metal to form the word LOVE, the see-through structure is filled with recyclable beverage cans and plastic bottles—symbols of community effort and environmental responsibility. The modular design makes the sculpture easy to transport and display at sites across Hampton Roads.
“The sculpture serves as a great reminder of what we can recycle on campus,” said Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences and director of sustainability at VWU. “It not only promotes recycling but also encourages us to think about the bigger picture of sustainability—refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling.”
Sterzing explained that the “Start Smart, Recycle Right” (SSRR) campaign was developed by the Litter and Beautification Committee of askHRgreen.org, which she chaired during the sculpture’s conception and creation. “The campaign encourages residents to recycle only accepted materials—typically paper, plastic bottles, and metal cans—based on their locality’s specific program guidelines,” she said. “It’s all about helping people recycle right and reduce contamination in the recycling stream.”
Since its debut, the LOVE sculpture has toured all 17 Hampton Roads localities and appeared at major regional events, including the Suffolk Earth and Arts Festival, Virginia Beach Earth Day Festival, Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Plastic-Free July, multiple farmers markets and community cleanups, and Live Green Norfolk, the city’s inaugural sustainability festival coordinated by Sterzing and her team.
Now, thanks to Sterzing’s initiative, the sculpture continues its journey at VWU—serving as both an artful statement and a powerful reminder that environmental love starts locally, with every can, bottle, and choice to recycle right.
Learn more about sustainability@VWU.