Class I Briefs: NS, CSX

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Four East Palestine High School students receive scholarships for higher education.

Four East Palestine High School students receive scholarships for higher education.

Norfolk Southern’s (NS) President and CEO Alan H. Shaw awards first Bulldog Legacy Scholarships. Also, NS and CSX are ranked among America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today.

NS President and CEO Alan H. Shaw on May 19 announced the first winners of the Bulldog Legacy Scholarship, celebrating the “extraordinary accomplishments” of East Palestine High School’s (EPHS) 2023 graduating class.

EPHS seniors Linsey Evans, Weston Jones, Libby McElroy and Ryan Rosen were selected as the first-ever scholarship recipients, based on their “academic achievement, leadership abilities and commitment to making a positive impact in East Palestine.”

The scholarship, funded by Shaw through a $445,000 personal donation, is committed to helping EPHS graduating seniors who seek to attend a four-year university or two-year vocational school, NS stated in a release. The donation has been placed in a special fund that was created to provide scholarships for students indefinitely and is designed to generate income to support the scholarships year after year.

Each of this year’s recipients will receive $1,000—up to $4,000 over the next four years, so long as they maintain their academic performance. They will also be awarded a few additional gifts from NS to help them prepare for school, including a North Face backpack and MacBook Air.

Details on the winners of the first annual Bulldog Legacy Scholarship:

  • Linsey Evans will attend Columbiana County Joint Vocational Center and plans to become a registered nurse.
  • Weston Jones will attend Youngstown State University and plans to study civil engineering.
  • Libby McElroy will attend Youngstown State University and plans to study business.
  • Ryan Rosen will attend Youngstown State University and plans to study business.

“I congratulate the entire 2023 graduating class of East Palestine High School. They have worked hard to reach this milestone. Today, we’re recognizing four exceptional graduates who will be continuing their education in pursuit of business, engineering, and nursing,” said Shaw. “Investing in education and our future leaders are two of the most important things we can do to ensure the success of our communities.”

NS and CSX have been ranked among America’s Climate Leaders 2023 by USA Today and Statista Inc., a statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

To create the list, which includes companies across the U.S. that have achieved the greatest reduction in their core emissions intensity between 2019 and 2021, Statista considered companies’ effectiveness in reducing their core emissions intensity, defined as Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in relation to revenue. Several thousand companies with 2021 revenue of at least $50 million were invited to participate, and 2,000 companies were evaluated.

America’s Climate Leaders 2023 were selected based on a two-step process:

  • Application and Research Phase: To be considered, companies had to meet specific criteria around reporting and publishing emissions data, revenue, CDP rating, and more. Statista scrutinized publicly available data on approximately 2,000 American companies.
  • Data Analysis and Scoring Phase: For all companies meeting the inclusion criteria, the year-over-year reduction in emissions intensity (compound annual reduction rate) was calculated.

According to NS, the railroad has established a science-based target to achieve a 42% reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity by 2034 from a 2019 base year. NS says it is “committed to reducing its carbon footprint while helping its customers achieve their own sustainability goals,” equipping them with innovative tools, such as its next-generation carbon calculator and Rail Emissions Report to measure and mitigate supply chain emissions.

“This recognition serves as a testament to NS’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and the substantial progress we have made in reducing our Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions intensity,” said NS Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin. “This progress would not be possible without the collective efforts and dedication of our team, customers, and partners who integrate innovation and sustainable practices into their daily operations. We are honored to be recognized as a climate leader, and we remain steadfast in our mission to build a better, more resilient planet for generations to come.”

Being named by USA Today as a leader in emissions reduction is the latest in a growing list of recognitions earned by CSX for its sustainability programs and environmental performance. According to the Class I, CSX is the only U.S. transportation company to be included in the 2023 S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, and the company has been part of the Dow Jones North America Sustainability Index for 12 consecutive years, based on its sustainability performance and other factors.

CSX’s GHG emissions reduction goal is “among the most aggressive in the transportation industry,” targeting 37.3% reduction in GHG intensity by 2030, against a 2014 base year, the railroad said. Through 2021, the company achieved an emissions intensity reduction of 15.6% from the base year.

“We applaud USA Today for bringing attention to the nation’s growing climate concerns and for recognizing the companies that are making a difference by reducing emissions intensity,” said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. “As the most fuel-efficient mode of freight transportation on land, railroads can play a significant role in the nation’s climate strategy, and CSX is proud to be the industry leader. We’re committed to continuing to reduce our carbon intensity through sustainable operations and technological innovation.”

More information on America’s Climate Leaders ranking is available here.

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