Student Impact Awards

Washington Avenue Bridge view of campus

Do you know an undergraduate, graduate student, or student group on any University of Minnesota campus that has made significant contributions to creating a more sustainable future? Nominate them for the Student Impact Award!

The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment and the Office of Sustainability invite nominations for the second annual system-wide 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. 

Award recipients will be recognized at the Sustainability Symposium, a hybrid event on Friday, April 12th, 2024, 11am-4:30pm. Students receiving an award will be recognized between 4-4:30pm. Individual awardees will receive $500, and collaborative projects will receive a funded recognition celebration or grant funding. 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.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Nominations are due Friday, March 29th, 2024 by end of business day

Individual Undergraduate/Graduate Student Award Nomination >

Collaborative Student Team Award Nomination >

FAQs

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How many students can receive an award?

  • Up to 2 undergraduate awards for students from the Rochester, Crookston and Morris campuses, up to 3 undergraduate awards at Duluth, and up to 4 undergraduate awards on the Twin Cities campus. 
  • Up to 2 graduate student awards per Rochester, Duluth and Twin Cities campus.  
  • One collaborative project per Rochester, Crookston, and Morris campuses, and up to two at the Duluth and Twin Cities campuses.

Who can be nominated?

Students being nominated must be registered students for spring semester 2024. At least one member of a team must be a registered student for spring semester 2024.

Who can nominate?

University faculty, staff, students, and community members can submit nominations. We will not be accepting self-nominations.

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 a funded recognition celebration for the team and community/campus partner or 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.