Cornerstone
‘ Where earth, water, and sun meet purpose’:
MIAMI UNIVERSITY’S SHARON AND GRAHAM MITCHELL SUSTAINABILITY PARK DEDICATED
Originally published in Miami Matters on April 22, 2026, by Susan Meikle and reprinted with permission.
“We were recently reminded through the remarkable images from Artemis II about how small and breathtakingly beautiful our world truly is,” Graham Mitchell '73, MEn. '76 said during the dedication of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park at Miami University April 20.
“Today, here at Miami University we gather to take a meaningful step toward sustainability and one that will
help protect the fragile beauty for generations to come,” he said.
“In many ways this moment represents both a small step and a giant leap forward in Miami's ongoing sustainability journey.”
The park, with its two solar arrays, was established by a $5 million gift from Graham and Sharon Janosik
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Mitchell ’73, longtime supporters of Miami and of sustainability
The dedication ceremony included a reveal of the park’s main gateway by their sons Mark Mitchell '07 and Steven Mitchell '03.
“IT ALL COMES BACK IN A CIRCLE”
“We are extraordinarily grateful to Sharon and Graham Mitchell for their principal gift” that made the park happen, Miami University President Gregory Crawford said.
“We also thank them for their time, treasure, and talent over the many years that they have stayed connected to their alma mater and changing the landscape of this university.”
The park features two solar arrays — Western Solar North and South — with more than 3,300 ground mount solar panels that will produce around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually. The Western Solar North array sits on top of Miami’s Western Geothermal Well field. Completed in 2014, the wellfield consists of 690 geothermal wells, each 600 feet deep.
“We believe we are the first in the country, maybe even the world, to have solar panels on top of a geothermal wellfield,” President Crawford said.
More than a decade and half ago, Miami made an
Three generations of the Mitchell family celebrate the dedication of the park.
Adults left to right: Sharon Mitchell '73, Steve Mitchell '03, Graham Mitchell '73, MEn. '76, Mark Mitchell '07, Stacey Mitchell and Abby Mitchell (photos by Jeff Sabo)
investment in geothermal infrastructure, President Crawford said. Sharon Mitchell was chair of the Board of Trustees when that investment was approved — “so it all comes back in a circle,” he said.
The park also features walking paths, seating areas, lighting and informational signage. Trail connectors from the walking paths lead to nearby Miami University Natural Areas trails.
“MAY WE BE WISE. MAY WE SHOW RESPECT.”
ašiihkiwi nipi kiilhswa keekiihiweewaaci. aalime kati nipwaahkaayankwi iišileniyankwi
The earth, water, and sun give life. We must be wise about how we act.
The words above in the Myaamia language are inscribed on the park’s main gateway and used throughout the park in some of the informational signs.
“They are an invitation to remember that we all belong to something much greater than ourselves, and that that belonging carries responsibility,” Nichole Prescott said in the dedication’s invocation. Prescott, the assistant vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University of Texas System, received her master’s degree in History from Miami in 2000 and is a member of the Miami University Foundation Board of Directors. She is a
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citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (Myaamia) and actively participates in the culture and language revitalization efforts of her people
“What strikes me about this park is that it is asking the same things those words have always asked: in a different language, with different tools, but the same thing. That continuity matters,” Prescott said.
“It tells us that tradition and innovation are not antithetical. At its best, innovation is simply tradition finding a new way to fulfill its oldest purpose, to care for what gives us life, and to leave it better than when we found it for all the generations to come.”
“Sharon and Graham understood that. They chose to invest in this place, they chose to be accountable. Accountable to this earth, to this institution, to our students, and to the generations who will walk these paths long after we’re gone,” she said.
“May we be wise. May we show respect. And may this place be a reminder of both of these things.”
PUBLIC ICE SKATING RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER
Rhett Butler
Public ice skating will return to Goggin Ice Center in September, with a new online registration process that allows guests to complete their waiver and secure their spot before arriving or conveniently register from their phone when they get to the rink. Participants can complete registration and required waivers before arriving, streamlining the check-in process and reducing wait times at the rink.
Public skating sessions are open to community members and the Miami University community. Skate rentals are available, and both figure and hockey skates can be rented in a variety of sizes.
Benefit-eligible Miami University faculty and staff may participate in Friday Noon Skates at no cost beginning September 18 as part of the Healthy Miami program. Noon Skates are held from 12:10-1:10 p.m. and provide an opportunity for faculty and staff to use the ice during the workday.
EARTH DAY
With Earth Day this week, “we are reminded of the very first Earth Day, an event that holds special meaning for us,” Sharon Mitchell said during the dedication. “As freshmen here at Miami, we witnessed the nation come together to celebrate and commit to environmental stewardship.”
“It was an energizing and formative experience and one that sparked a lifelong passion for sustainability.”
FILLED WITH GRATITUDE AND HOPE
“The sustainability park is truly extraordinary. We could not have imagined a more beautiful outcome when we were planning it,” Graham Mitchell said.
“Standing here today in this beautiful park we are filled with both gratitude and hope. Our hope is that this place becomes a space of reflection, connection, and inspiration for all who visit,” Sharon Mitchell said.
“And more importantly, that it encourages current and future generations of Miamians to renew their commitment to sustainability and to the stewardship of our shared home.”
COOK FIELD PARKING CHANGES
As preparations begin for the exciting transformation of Cook Field, construction fencing will be installed around the project site starting the end of July.
As a result of the construction:
• Parking in the West and South Cook Field lots will no longer be available beginning August 10.
• Parking on the North side of Cook Field will remain open but will be limited throughout the beginning of the fall semester.
Faculty, staff, and visitors who typically park in these areas are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach campus destinations. We appreciate your patience and understanding as this important project gets underway and will continue to share updates as construction progresses.
A PLACE OF LEARNING AND AUTHENTICITY
Schmeichel
Since 2014, Western Dining Commons has become one of the most popular dining commons on campus, from the quality of food to the warm employees to the smoothness of Western’s operations. That popularity continues to this day, thanks to the work of Ray Card, the executive chef at Western Dining Commons.
Ray began working for Miami Dining Services in March 2026, and his career path was anything but simple. He originally went to school for auto body painting, but being a chef always came naturally to him because his family owned a French bakery in New England. Eventually, he switched from painting vehicles to working at Olive Garden. For a while, he traveled around the country as a corporate trainer inspecting different Olive Garden locations. Through that role, Ray transferred to San Francisco, California, where he advanced to fine dining and then finally to corporate dining, leading teams for multiple companies before coming to Miami.
Although Ray has only been on campus for two months, he already loves the culture and the people. He’s always considered Miami’s workplace dynamic to be positive and one of the best parts about working here. “I see a lot of promotions within and a lot of growth happening,” Ray explains. “That’s what made me want to come on
board.” His favorite part of the job is training incoming employees; he enjoys teaching future generations about the industry he’s become so passionate about, “passing on that knowledge from 1999 until now.” When asked what advice he would give to someone starting a career in dining services, he emphasized the importance of on-the-job training and learning about the food industry from as many people as possible. “It makes you wellrounded,” Ray explains. “It adds value to you.”
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 school year, Ray is excited about his plans to elevate the food at Western Dining Commons. Aside from changing some of the food offered, Ray also plans to better showcase his team and the food preparation process. To Ray, the most important thing about working at a dining commons is intentionality, which he describes as “doing things with purpose and showing our guests that we’re cooking.”
When he’s not working, Ray enjoys eating food and watching F1. His favorite part of F1 is the concept of “underdogs hanging with the big dogs,” and one day he hopes to be able to attend a race. When asked what food he would eat every day for the rest of his life, he chose pizza, which fits with his enthusiasm for versatility. You can go in a lot of different directions with pizza, just like having multiple skills brings you respect as a person.