Wilderness Skills has been pushed into the national spotlight, as its Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative beat out more than 120 competitors to become a finalist in the Ecomagination Challenge sponsored by mtvU and General Electric.

Wilskills is an independent, student-run course "designed to integrate academic study with practical experience in the wilderness," according to its Web site.

The Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative is a Wilskills-proposed project to use biodiesel as a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative energy source.

Biodiesel is created when vegetable oils, such as those disposed of by Vanderbilt Dining Services, are run through biodiesel systems to produce a more environmentally friendly fuel.

When used in diesel-fueled engines, such as those that run student activity vans and landscaping equipment at Vanderbilt, biodiesel produces significantly smaller amounts of greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum-based fuels.

Part of the contest's final decision is up to online voters, and Derek Riley, team leader for the initiative, encouraged Vanderbilt students to support the university and the project by voting.

To vote and check out a project overview, proposal and informational video, visit www.ecocollegechallenge.com.

WilSkills is in competition with many elite universities for the top prize, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Southern California and University of Virginia.

The contest winner receives $25,000 to fund their project and an Angels and Airwaves concert on the winning university's campus.

Riley said he and a group of WilSkills members began researching biodiesel last summer when he became frustrated with high gas prices.

"We spent a lot of gas money on our van, so we looked into being more environmentally friendly, and we decided that biodiesel was a good way to go," Riley said.

Riley said his group was immediately receptive to the idea, which has since been expanded to serve the entire Vanderbilt community.

Riley also said he and his team are still churning out ideas, now researching waste methanol and its potential for reuse.

"We are researching whether we can reclaim it and use it in the biodiesel process," he said. "We're not aware of anyone else doing this yet, so this is pretty unique as well."

Steve Friedman, general manager of mtvU, said he sees the contest as a way to involve college students in solving environmental problems.

"They are trendsetters of what is new and possible, and we will look to them for the answers," he said.

Friedman said that Vanderbilt students should be proud of their initiative.

"I was very impressed by the video that the students at Vanderbilt created, and I hope students go out and vote," he said. "These students spent a lot of time, and it was exciting to read. It was exciting to read these ideas that will perhaps be emulated."