Are you an undergraduate, graduate student, or student group on any University of Minnesota campus that has made significant contributions to creating a more sustainable future?
The application period for the Collaborative Student Team and Individual closed on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.
The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment and the Office of Sustainability invite nominations for the fifth annual systemwide Sustainability “Student Impact Awards,” honoring current undergraduate and graduate student efforts who are leading the way toward a future in which people and the environment prosper together. Examples might be work for environmental justice, sustainability education, climate action, community-based work, a class project, etc.
To be considered, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit the award application form. The same form is being used for individuals and collaborative applications.
- Identify a UMN staff or faculty supporter to complete a brief recommendation form
Award recipients will be recognized at the Sustainability Symposium, a hybrid event on Friday, March 27th, 2026, 10am-5pm. Students receiving an award will be recognized between approximately 10:20-11am. Individual awardees will receive $500, and collaborative projects will receive a funded recognition celebration or grant funding of $1000. To receive this award, students must be currently enrolled as a student on one of the University of Minnesota campuses.
Note: The Morris campus selection for the Individual Impact Award is aligned with the Morris Sustainability Leader Annual Award process. Morris students working on a collaborative team project can be nominated through the Team form linked below. Duluth students will be recognized through the Duluth Sustainability Inspiration Awards process.
The application period for the Collaborative Student Team and Individual closed on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.
FAQs
Who can apply?
All applicants must be registered students for spring semester 2026. Collaborative teams and individuals who have received previous funding can apply again after 2 years.
Who can complete the recommendation form?
University faculty, staff, students, and community members can submit the recommendation form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the recommendation form is submitted to support their application.
What is a “collaborative team impact” award?
We seek to recognize groups of students who have worked together to effect change on their campus and community. Teams can be nominated if they are a registered student group OR have a staff or faculty member who can receive the student group grant for use in the next year.
Awardees can receive grant funding to a UMN registered student group account or UMN faculty or staff member who can receive the student group grant into a University account to use the next year. There is an additional option for groups of 4 or less students to request the funding be distributed among the team members as individual payments.