Earth Day

OHIO Earth Day Events  |  Community Earth Month Events  |  Sustainability Awards

OHIO Earth Day Celebrations: Wednesday April 22, 2026 12-2:00pm

​​The OHIO Earth Day Celebrations will be held in the Grover Center Atrium.  Follow our social media accounts for updates: @OHIOsustainable, #OHIOearthday. 

Campus & Community Sustainability, Arbor Day Celebration, Bee Campus USA Recognition & More

Events and activities including the Campus & Community Sustainability Fair will be held in the Grover Center Atrium from 12 to 2:00pm. Attendees can enjoy a Free Thrift Store, learn do-it-yourself repurpose and repair projects from campus and community members, find out about opportunities and events, and learn about sustainability initiatives. Also, join us to learn about trees and pollinator areas on campus, celebrate Arbor Day and Ohio University's recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education and Bee Campus USA, and find out how to grow your very own red oak sapling from a Campus Green acorn!

Sustainability Awards

Award recipients will be announced in the Grover Atrium on April 22nd.  Follow our social media throughout the afternoon (@OHIOsustainable) for highlights of individual award winners.

The Sustainability Awards are given to individuals and organizations nominated by their peers. The awards are separated into five categories: Faculty Sustainability Award, Student Sustainability Leader(s) Award, Staff Sustainability Advocate Award, Exemplary Sustainable Department Award and Community Sustainability Recognition.  More information below.

OHIO Earth Day Parade

We will not be holding an Earth Day Parade in 2026,  but you can re-live the 2019 OHIO Earth Day Parade through a video made by graduate student Vicky Kent:  

Community Earth Month Events

Earth Day is April 22nd, but Ohio University will continue our own tradition of celebrating "Earth Day Every Day" throughout the month prior to Earth Day. We have partnered with campus and community organizations to develop a county-wide list of Earth Month activities! Check out the website regularly to see it fill with activities!

Sustainability Awards:

Sustainability Awards recognize Ohio University and community members for their contributions to sustainable behaviors on all of OHIO's campuses and communities during the past year.  The individuals and groups nominated and recognized are integral to the advancement of the implementation of the Ohio University Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan or to the sustainability of our communities.  These awards are open to all OHIO faculty, staff or students on any of Ohio University's campuses, and the Community Sustainability Award is also open to community groups.

For information about these awards, please refer to the information provided below.

Award Categories

Faculty Sustainability Award: This recognition is awarded to a faculty member who has made exemplary contributions to his or her field through sustainability-related teaching, research, scholarship or service.  Sustainability Hub Coordinators are ineligible for this award.

Student Sustainability Leader(s) Award: This award recognizes one student (or student group) who has excelled in sustainable actions and leadership at Ohio University during their time as a student. This can include class projects, club events, personal behaviors/actions, volunteerism and the like.-- This award is open to both undergraduate students and graduate students.

Staff Sustainability Advocate Award: This award is given to a staff member who has served as an advocate for advancing sustainability initiatives at Ohio University or served in a support role to assist student, faculty, staff or community led initiatives. Office of Sustainability staff members are ineligible for this award.

Exemplary Sustainable Department Award: This award is given to an office or department at Ohio University that has shown great leadership in a variety of sustainable behaviors including, but not limited to, advancing the Sustainability and Climate Action Plans, encouraging health and wellness among its employees, investing in local goods and services, reducing its landfilled waste generation, participating in energy reduction efforts, and engaging in shared office resources. Any Department which completes the Sustainable Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP) will be automatically nominated in this award category if a certification application was submitted within the past academic year.

Community Sustainability Recognition: Any community member (or group) is invited to be nominated for recognition of their participation in programs that help support community-wide sustainability efforts.

Rules

• All nominees must be current Ohio University faculty, staff or students (exception: Community Sustainability Recognition).
• You may nominate yourself or someone else.
• You may nominate more than one person for the same award (please fill out a separate form for each nomination).
• You may nominate the same person for multiple awards, as long as they are eligible. Office of Sustainability staff and Sustainability Hub Coordinators are not eligible.
• While you will be asked to provide your name and email when you nominate someone, you may choose to keep your nomination anonymous if you wish.
• Nominations are due at midnight on April 8, 2026.

Nomination Process

Only online submissions will be accepted. Nominations are due by midnight on April 8th. The nomination will require the following:

1. Name and email of person (or group/department) being nominated
2. Name and email of the person nominating (optional)
3. Award Name
4. Essay: In 500 words or less, explain why you believe this individual should be recognized for their sustainability efforts. Please address how their actions have advanced the triple bottom line of sustainability at Ohio University.

Selection Process

• An ad hoc committee composed of previous winners and sustainably-minded faculty, staff, students and community members will review the nominations for the awards.
• Nominees will be evaluated on their contributions to implementing goals in the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan as well as their leadership role and impact with respect to the triple bottom line of sustainability (simultaneous benefits to people, planet and profitability).
• Those who are nominated for an award will be ineligible to evaluate their own award category
• Evaluations will be compiled and the nominee with the highest score will win.

Congratulations to past Sustainability Award Winners!

Faculty Sustainability Research & Advocacy Award: Sarah Davis, Professor of Environmental Studies, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service (2025); Geoff Dabelko, Voinovich School (2024); Geoff Buckley, Geography (2023); Natalie Kruse Daniels, Environmental Studies (2022); Amy Lynch, Geography (2021); Guy Riefler, Civil Engineering & John Sabraw, School of Art (2020); Theresa Moran, Food Studies (2019); Gilbert Michaud, Voinovich School of Leadership & Public Affairs (2018); Colin Gabler, College of Business (2017); Fran McFadden, College of Health Sciences and Professions (2016); Molly Schoenhoff (2015); Ben Stuart, Russ College of Engineering (2014)

Student Sustainability Leader Award: Catherine Galla, HTC Environmental Studies (2025); Student Senate Environmental Affairs Commission (2024); Era Bakia, Biological Sciences (2023); Katelyn Rousch, HTC Environmental Studies, Economics and Physics undergraduate student (2022); Abbey Rodjom, Environmental Studies graduate student & Allison Shryock, HTC Environmental Studies/Geography undergraduate student (2021); Winter Wilson, Environmental Studies/Journalism Honors Tutorial College (2020); Vicky Kent, Sport and Recreation Pedagogy graduate student (2019); Kaitlin Kulich, Journalism undergraduate student (2018); Zero Waste Initiative Student Leaders (2017); Leigh Wagner, undergraduate student & Annalisa Weber, graduate student (2016); Alex Slaymaker, undergraduate student (2015)

Staff Sustainability Advocate Award: Amy Mackey, Voinovich School Energy and the Environment Programs Research Associate & Project Manager and Raccoon Creek Watershed Coordinator (2025); Gem Stone, Design & Construction (2024); Kirby Bowling, Lausche Heating Plant (2023); Joanna Sokol, Campus Recycling & Zero Waste (2022); Elissa Welch, Voinovich School (2021); Karsen Bailey, Information Technology (2020); Jennifer Bowman, Voinovich School (2019); Annie Laurie Cadmus, Wellworks (2018); Susan Calhoun, Grounds (2017); Kristen Herbst, Health Sciences and Professions (2016); Andrew Ladd, Campus Recycling & Zero Waste (2015); Loraine McCosker, Voinovich School of Leadership & Public Affairs (2014)

Exemplary Sustainable Department Award: Nicole Kirchner and Nichole Mazzone for leading the Voinovich School’s Green Team (2025); Sustainability Film Series (2024); Center for Intervention Research in Schools (2023); Department of Geography (2022); Environmental Studies Program (2021); Information Technology Acquisitions (2020); Office of Information Technology (2019); Architecture, Design & Construction (2018); Moving & Surplus (2017); Office of Global Opportunities (2016); Campus Recycling & Zero Waste (2015); Culinary Services (2014)

Community Sustainability Recognition: Keeping it Native Land Management, Eric Hayes and Eric Metcalf Co-Owners and Operators (2025); Athens County Senior Fair Board (2024); Christin Butler and Weston Lombard (2023); Carol Kuhre (2022); Passion Works (2021); Mary Anne & Don Flournoy and Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio (2020 joint award); The Village Bakery & Cafe (2019); City of Athens Environment and Sustainability Commission (2018); Athens City-County Health Dept (2017); Bruce Underwood (2016); Upgrade Athens (2015)