FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Crystal Simmons
Bulletin Editor & Program Manager
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
awards@aashe.org
25 Institutions Recognized for Outstanding Case Study
(April 13, 2026) – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is pleased to announce the 25 case studies that earned the Outstanding Case Study designation in this year’s AASHE Sustainability Awards program. This recognition uplifts applicants in the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award and Student Sustainability Leadership Award categories. Congratulations to these institutions for outstanding sustainability efforts at their institution and beyond.
All of these case studies can be found in the Campus Sustainability Hub.
Outstanding Case Study recipients in the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award category:
- Building a Lab Sustainability Initiative from the Ground Up at University of Rochester
- Catalyzing a New York Climate Solutions Community of Practice at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and with Strategic Energy Innovations
- Cultivating Sustainability Leaders: The Impact of the Batten Honors College at Virginia Wesleyan University
- food4VOLS: Establishing a Sustainable Food System at University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Food Forest: A Living Learning Lab Advancing High Impact Pedagogy, While Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Resilience, Food Justice, and Food Security at Kennesaw State University
- Give ‘N Go Move-Out Program at Bentley University and with Casella
- IE Sustainability Townhall: A Participatory Funding Model for Campus Sustainability and Community Impact at IE Business School
- Integrated Energy Resilience: Education, Infrastructure, and Community Benefit at Southern Oregon University
- Lab Swap Shop at the University of Michigan
- Maize and Blue Cupboard – Fighting Food Insecurity Among Students and the Larger Campus Community at University of Michigan
- MSU Culinary Services Staff Eco Ambassadors at Michigan State University
- New2U Thrift Store: A Model for Student-Led Circularity and Campus Resilience at University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Pitt Eats by Chartwells: A Campus‑Driven Approach to Ending Food Insecurity at University of Pittsburgh and with 412 Food Rescue
- Redbird Fresh Market Developed to Address Food Insecurity at Illinois State University
- Returnable Shelves – Promoting Environmental and Social Benefits via Recyclable Waste Diversion at University of Michigan
- Sustainable Infrastructure Program at Oberlin College and with Ever-Green Energy
- Shared Stewardship: Adopt a Spot at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- The Eco Reps Program at Arizona State University and with Coca-Cola
Outstanding Case Study recipients in the Student Sustainability Leadership Award category:
- Bin There, Done That: Students Leading UVA’s Waste Shift at University of Virginia
- Expanding Environmental Justice Knowledge at Johns Hopkins University
- Seed Library in the Campus Community Garden at Georgia Southern University
- Students Advance Carbon Neutrality at Northern Michigan University: Early Progress, Engagement, and Lessons Learned at Northern Michigan University
- Sustainability Student Committee: A Cross-Disciplinary Student Hub for Environmental Awareness and Climate Action at IE Business School
- The Thrifty Cat: The First Campus Free Store at University of Kentucky
- Think Before You Trash: Implementing Campus Waste Reuse Initiatives at Hood College
About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development opportunities to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with–and for– higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are equipped and motivated to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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