Campus Sustainability Challenge gives provides opportunity to lead small-scale sustainability initiatives across campus
With student-run and university initiatives taking place across campus, students are joining and spearheading sustainability efforts each year. The annual Campus Sustainability Challenge gives students the opportunity to pitch their ideas for small-scale sustainability projects and receive grants up to $5,000.
The Office of Sustainability’s main goal is to improve efficiency on campus and save money, energy and resources, according to Sustainability Director Amy Parrish.
Parrish noted in addition to employing students, the Office of Sustainability gains student participation through initiatives like the Campus Sustainability Challenge.
“For students that notice something that they think we could be doing a better job at, this is an opportunity for them to implement that and make the change themselves,” Parrish said.
The Campus Sustainability Challenge will take place on Oct. 29 from 1-4 p.m.. Applicants pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and have the opportunity to answer questions about their ideas.
The challenge was first established in spring 2024, awarding senior and Computer Science major Kade Bolen the grant for his project idea of building a machine to recycle plastic waste into 3D printer filament.
He said he saw the Campus Sustainability Challenge as a way to begin the process of bringing his idea to life.
Once awarded the grant, Bolen purchased and assembled a machine that recycled unused or failed 3D printed projects into reusable filament.
After receiving the grant, Bolen continues to perfect his initial idea of recycling plastic waste to make filament. He noted this opportunity led him to collaborate with the engineering and material science departments and sees his momentum towards sustainability efforts in the MakerLab continuing after he graduates this semester.
Since its first year, the Campus Sustainability Challenge has seen many different ideas for projects and increased its grant to $5,000.
In Spring 2025, Mallory Picl was awarded the grant for her pitch to replace plastic water jugs in the Environmental Research Building with water fountains. Picl is pursuing her master’s degree in Geosciences and minored in sustainability as an undergraduate student.
“I always had the idea, but I didn’t really think it would be feasible until I found this grant,” Picl said.
Before applying for the grant, Picl said she noticed the plastic water jugs in the kitchenettes on each floor of the building and wondered if there was a way to replace them. She brought the idea to facilities workers and sent out a poll to students and people who frequently use the building.
The response made it clear there was strong support for her idea, with facilities even offering to do the replacement at no charge.
“They aren’t reusable, it’s a lot of plastic, and it takes a lot of carbon emissions to have the company haul water jugs each month and replace them,” Picl said.
However, many people included in Picl’s poll voiced their concerns about not having access to hot water — a feature of the plastic water jugs. This led her to reach out to Parrish about putting electric kettles in the kitchenettes so students and workers could still have hot water.
“The sustainability grant was my last step to get everyone on board with replacing the water jugs, and it definitely worked,” Picl said.
Since she was awarded the grant, the Environmental Research Building has implemented the electric kettles and newly installed water fountains, replacing the use of plastic water jugs.
Bolen and Picl highlighted the valuable experience they gained from being able to see their ideas come to fruition, with both noting more students should take advantage of opportunities like the Campus Sustainability Challenge.
Aside from the sustainability effort itself, Bolen said the challenge taught him how to write and give proposals, communicate with others and ask the right questions to achieve his desired results.
The project also shifted Picl’s focus to a career in sustainability and helped her make connections with people who work in sustainability efforts for the City of Boise.
“My whole shift towards sustainability and thinking about doing it long term really started with this grant,” Picl said. “You learn so much, you connect with so many people, and it’s helping me enter the job world.”
She also encouraged students to bring any ideas they have to the Office of Sustainability or reach out to Parrish to “workshop” ideas and different ways to get involved with sustainability efforts on campus
“If you have any small want to get involved with the sustainability program, I think this grant is a great way to do that,” Picl said.
