Warren Wilson is indeed number one…

#1 in the Southeast on Sierra Magazine’s list of “10 Coolest Schools” in the fight against global warming, and #4 nationwide.

#1 nationwide in the National Wildlife Federation report “Campus Environment 2008” as the “Leading School for Waste Reduction and Recycling.”

#1 in becoming the first college or university in the Southeast to offset all of its energy use with renewable energy credits, or “green” power.

#1 in the number of students over the years who have won N.C. Academy of Science awards for their research.

#1 as the only school with fewer than 1,000 students on the list of leading service-learning programs in U.S. News’ “America’s Best Colleges 2008.” The 2009 edition also recognized Warren Wilson for the sixth time as one of 25 schools nationwide that have a “Program to Look For” in service learning.

#1 in becoming the first college or university in North Carolina to have a Gold Certified Building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. WWC also is the only N.C. school with a LEED Gold dorm.

#1 in the Southeast on Outside Magazine’s list of “40 schools that turn out smart grads with top-notch academic credentials, a healthy environmental ethos, and an A+ sense of adventure.” Click here .

#1 in becoming the first college, in the early 1960s, to make service-learning a graduation requirement.

#1 in its recognition as the “Greenest College” in the Southeast, selected by Blue Ridge Outdoors in both 2007 and 2008 as part of the magazine’s Green Globe Awards.

#1 in its selection as 2006 Conservation Farm Family of the Year in the Mountain Region, chosen by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

#1 in receiving the national 2006 Campus Sustainability Achievement Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, in the category of four-year schools with fewer than 1,000 students.

#1 in its selection by the organization Sustainable North Carolina as recipient of the 2006 N.C. Sustainability Award, in the Environmental Stewardship category.

#1 among N.C. independent colleges in signing a letter of intent for the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

#1 in the recognition of its Environmental Leadership Center as recipient of the Quality Forward Hall of Fame Award 2008. Quality Forward, which is changing its identity to Asheville GreenWorks, is the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.