When Pam Birkel, MBA '13, offered her services to TrackTown12—organizers of last summer's Olympic Trials at Hayward Field—she figured she'd land a spot as a recycling volunteer. Instead, she played a key role helping the event gain gold-level sustainability certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (ReSport), the national nonprofit advancing responsibly produced sports events. And because the Olympic Trials was the first multiday competition to be evaluated by ReSport, Birkel's work also helped set a benchmark for future multiday events throughout the nation. It all started when associate professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville introduced Birkel to Ethan Nelson, chair of TrackTown12's sustainability committee. Birkel, a Center for Sustainable Business Practices student, began a spring term independent study project that lay the groundwork for what became her summer job: documenting the event's many green activities and writing up the report submitted to ReSport. Though not every moment was glamorous—"I photographed every single bathroom in Hayward Field," Birkel recalled—the results were well worth the effort. Exceeding the already high standard set by the event in 2008, this year's trials achieved significant reduction in waste and emissions, while ensuring universal accessibility for all visitors.