Environmental Ambassador Awards

/https://siu.edu/search-results.php

Last Updated: Sep 11, 2026, 09:11 AM

Banner that says Environmental Ambassador Award, with a drawing of a trophy with leaves around it Register your volunteers with the Office of Student Engagement by April 1st to be recognized on April 22nd (Earth Day).

Annual Sustainability Awards

Every year at our Annual Sustainability Celebration, in April, we recognize those who are creating a positive impact at SIU! Recognitions include Environmental Ambassador Awards, Sustainability Collaborator Awards, and more! Learn more about these programs below.

Environmental Ambassador Award

April 2025 marked our 23rd year of awarding environmental ambassadors!

2024 Sustainability Celebration Awards Recipients

Photo: 2024 Sustainability Celebration Award Recipients

With a minimum of 30 service hours required to receive the award, we know that our students have volunteered over 9000 hours toward environmental initiatives since the initiation of the Environmental Ambassador Award.

We hope to break the 10,000 hour milestone this year! Students, help us to reach this goal!

Students who participate in at least 30 hours of environmentally related service in an academic year are eligible for the Environmental Ambassador Award, sponsored by the Sustainability Council and awarded by the Chancellor.

DEADLINE: Environmental Ambassador Award hours must be completed before April 1st, 2026 in order to be officially recognized at the Annual Sustainability Celebration on April 22, 2026. 

Environmental Ambassador Award

There are two options for receiving the Environmental Ambassador Award (EAA). In order to participate, students should review and follow the instructions below.

Option A

  1. If you have not already registered to use the volunteer database with the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, follow the instructions found on their website. When you register, you have the option of identifying which student groups you are a part of. Be sure to choose Environmental Ambassador.
  2. After registering, browse the opportunities listed in the volunteer database. A link to the database can be found here on the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism website. Click on the description link of each opportunity to find out if the volunteer opportunity qualifies for the Environmental Ambassador Award. Opportunities that qualify are noted with the sentence: “This program qualifies for the Environmental Ambassador Award.” Follow all instructions on the website to sign-up to volunteer at the event.
  3. Print out the Service Hours Verification Sheet, found on the SIU Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism website. Circle “Environmental Ambassador” as the “Reason for Service.” 
  4. Volunteer and ensure that the agency sponsor signs the form on the date of the event after you have filled out all other event information.
  5. Save the form: it is the responsibility of the student to save this form until all 30 qualifying hours are complete. You will use this form for all EAA hours.  If there are questions about qualifying hours, please contact the Sustainability Office.
  6. Submit your form: the completed form MUST be submitted to the Sustainability Office before the deadline (see above). Forms can be scanned and submitted electronically to sustainability@siu.edu with subject line: “Environmental Ambassador Award Option A Submission”.

The Sustainability Office sometimes offers opportunities to volunteer that are not listed in the volunteer database. If you are working on this award while volunteering with our office, ask us to sign your Service Hours Verification Sheet at the time you volunteer with us.

Option B

We understand that students sometimes complete environmental work outside of the opportunities available in the SIU Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism database. Students who have completed environmental work outside of this process during the active school year may apply to receive the Environmental Ambassador Award by completing the Environmental Ambassador Award Form and complying with the requirements set forth. Forms can be scanned and submitted electronically to sustainability@siu.edu with subject line: “Environmental Ambassador Award Option B Submission”.

Environmental Ambassador Recipients

We recognize our past awardees. See below for a list of our Environmental Ambassador recipients over the years.

2025 Environmental Ambassadors

2025 Environmental Ambassadors

Full List of 2025 Awardees

  • Clover Robinson
  • Justin Marconi
  • Abby Johnson
  • Harrison Gerdes
  • Maelin Abbott-Rinehart
  • Jack Pizziferro
  • Carolyn Harness
  • Marie Holtrop
  • Jessica Webb
  • Madelyn Harrelson
  • Olivia Larrison
  • Jazmine Zarate
  • Rajee Tamrakar
  • Opie Piper
  • Elizabeth Cheek
  • Angie Kuehl
  • Sandra Emberton
  • Chaya Rice
  • Joseph Ragnanese
  • Sydney Bailey
  • Cecilia Acosta Lopez
  • Tess Brummer
  • Hannah Connolly
  • Jordan Dale
  • Riley Donath
  • Avery Martin
  • Sarah Ramsey
  • Santonio Resonno
  • Katrina Stanley
  • Gladis Sunny
  • Timothy Sunny
  • Ryan Wang
  • Mandy Nevels
  • Marsden Fisher
  • Katie Wise
  • Antonio Diaz
  • Raegan Graham
  • Fisayo Akinde
View photos from the 2025 Sustainability Environmental Awards

2024 Environmental Ambassadors

2024 Environmental Ambassadors

Full List of 2024 Awardees

  • Rockette Jaros
  • Sarah Depa
  • Olivia Larrison
  • Marsden Fisher
  • Keyla Aguilar
  • Chaya Rice
  • Bharath Chintada
  • Ethan Little
  • Elizabeth Lewinski
  • Maelin Abbott-Rinehart
  • Santonio Resonno

Rockette Jaros receiving their awardRockette Jaros 

Bharath Chintada receiving their awardBharath Chintada

Keyla Aguilar receiving their awardKeyla Aguilar

Olivia Larrison receiving their awardOlivia Larrison  

Marsden Fisher receiving their awardMarsden Fisher

Chaya Rice receiving their awardChaya Rice

Santonio Resonno receiving their awardSantonio Resonno                                               

2019 Environmental Ambassadors

2019 Environmental Ambassadors

Full List of 2018 Awardees

  • Taryn Bieri
  • Raymond Bieri
  • Joanna Neu
  • Gabrielle Robles
  • Zachary Telford
  • Holiday Wagner
  • Alexis Myers
  • Gage Mofield
  • Katelyn Toigo
  • Seth Traiteur
  • Pearl Deku
  • Emma Ensley
  • Makenna Baxter
  • Mary Sohst
  • Hannah McComber
  • Kaylin Janicke
  • Rashelle Runge
  • Breanna Whitley

Taryn Bieri receiving their awardTaryn Bieri 

Raymond Bieri receiving their awardRaymond Bieri 

Joanna Neu receiving their awardJoanna Neu 

Gabrielle Robles receiving their awardGabrielle Robles

Zachary Telford receiving their awardZachary Telford

Holiday Wagner receiving their awardHoliday Wagner

Alexis Myers receiving their awardAlexis Myers

Gage Mofield receiving their awardGage Mofield

Katelyn Toigo receiving their awardKatelyn Toigo

Pearl Deku receiving their awardPearl Deku

Emma Ensley receiving their awardEmma Ensley

Makenna Baxter receiving their awardMakenna Baxter

Mary Sohst receiving their awardMary Sohst

Hannah McComber receiving their awardHannah McComber

Kaylin Janicke receiving their awardKaylin Janicke

Breanna Whitley receiving their awardBreanna Whitley

Seth Traiteur receiving their awardSeth Traiteur  

2018 Environmental Ambassadors

2018 Environmental Ambassadors

Environmental Ambassador Award Recipients in front of Morris library 

Full List of 2018 Awardees

  • Evelyn Aden
  • Ali Alruzaq
  • Angelina Arcuri
  • Makenna Baxter
  • Scott Deutsch
  • Cole Dugan
  • Jesse Galaway
  • Samantha Griffin
  • Alexis Johnson
  • Courtney Nichols
  • Kaitlyn Novy
  • Luca Palásti
  • Kathryn Parrish
  • Isabelle Rogers
  • Rachel Thomas
  • Katelyn Toigo
  • Breanna Whitley

 

Evelyn Aden receiving their awardEvelyn Aden

Ali Alruzuq receiving their awardAli Alruzuq

Makenna Baxter receiving their awardMakenna Baxter

Cole Dugan receiving their awardCole Dugan

Jesse Galaway receiving their awardJesse Galaway

Samantha Griffin receiving their awardSamantha Griffin

Alexis Johnson receiving their awardAlexis Johnson

Luca Palasti receiving their awardLuca Palasti

Isabelle Rogers receiving their awardIsabelle Rogers

Rachel Thomas receiving their awardRachel Thomas

Katelyn Toigo receiving their awardKatelyn Toigo

2017 Environmental Ambassadors

2017 Environmental Ambassadors

2017 Environmental Ambassadors group

Photo (left to right): Wei Li, Julia Sanabria, Elise Sawa, Katelyn Toigo, Jenna Parks, Dylan Gibson, Anna Feliciano, Celine Aguilar, Andrew Aaflaq, Evan Krieg, Jatoya Hale, Student Sustainability Council Member Allyssa Kolenda, Sustainability Coordinator Geory Kurtzhals, Student Sustainability Council Member Amanda Marshall.

Full List of 2017 Awardees

  • Katelyn Toigo
  • Elise Sawa
  • Julia Sanabria
  • Jenna Parks
  • Kaitlyn Novy
  • Wei Li
  • Evan Krieg
  • Jatoya Hale
  • Dylan Gibson
  • Anna Feliciano
  • Celine Aguilar
  • Andrew Aaflaq

Katelyn Toigo receiving her award

Katelyn Toigo

Elise Sawa receiving her award

Elise Sawa

Julia Sanabria receiving their award

Julia Sanabria

Jenna Parks receiving their award

Jenna Parks

Kaitlyn Novy receiving their award

Kaitlyn Novy

Wei Li receiving their award

Wei Li

Evan Krieg receiving their award

Evan Krieg

Jatoya Hale receiving their award

Jatoya Hale

Dylan Gibson receiving their award

Dylan Gibson

Anna Feliciano receiving their award

Anna Feliciano

Celine Aguilar receiving their award

Celine Aguliar

Andrew Aaflaq receiving their award

Andrew Aaflaq

2016 Environmental Ambassadors

2016 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alexis Johnson
  • Anna Feliciano
  • Christopher Bretscher
  • Derek Reiking
  • Dylan Gibson
  • Elizabeth Fraley
  • Emily Fielden
  • Kara Halerewicz
  • Kayla Newsome
  • Megan Brown
  • Montel Wells
  • Shannon Batterman

2015 Environmental Ambassadors

2015 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Anderson Logan
  • Atherton Tonya
  • Baumgartner Luke
  • Bradley Kevin
  • Connor Zachary
  • Correia (Pereira) Bruna
  • Diericx Austin
  • Dillman Jared
  • Gulson Natalie
  • Gustafson Jamie
  • Harbin Samuel
  • Hoyt Lauren
  • Hurtado Maribel
  • Johnson Jill
  • Kupres Jacob
  • Laubach Dania
  • Lynch David
  • McDermott Evan
  • McDuffee Tom
  • McKenzie Margaret
  • Novak Michael
  • Potts III John
  • Runyon Dalton
  • Sanders Emerald
  • Schauwecker Karen
  • Snyder Michelle
  • Souza Bruno
  • Souza Ligia
  • Stockton Lauren
  • Trammel Jacob
  • Walker Patricia
  • Weber Will
  • Wells Tyler
  • Wiggins Arika
  • Withrow Torrri
  • Zhao Ashley

2014 Environmental Ambassadors

2014 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Abigail Plecki
  • Alyssa Macuiba
  • Anitra Dorsey
  • Brooke Hagarty
  • Christina Penna
  • Claire Mueller
  • Dania Laubach
  • David Lynch
  • Jacob Summers
  • Jonathan Fitzpatrick
  • Kevin Bradley
  • Kevin Schrader
  • Lauren Hoyt
  • Makia Hoormann
  • Margaret McKenzie
  • Michael Rung
  • Shannon Batterman
  • Thomas McDuffee
  • Vivian Johnson
  • William Joy
  • Zachary Connor

2013 Environmental Ambassadors

2013 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alicea Settlemoir
  • Alicia Luebbers
  • Alison Crim
  • Amanda Knight
  • Brooke Patton
  • Cheyenne Adams
  • Christian Hidrobo
  • Christy Iozzo
  • Ellen Esling
  • Gina Opper
  • James Buron
  • Jeff Heim
  • Kaia Pirazzini
  • Kerry McLeran
  • Kristen Taylor
  • Lacey Gibson
  • Lauren Adams
  • Leah Shirley
  • Lucas Garcia
  • Mark Hermann
  • Martin Wilson
  • Mary Petrizzo
  • Mitchell Vaughan
  • Morgan Schulte
  • Rachel Hatfield
  • Rebecca Filippini
  • Ryan Dillon
  • Sarah Baxter
  • Tamika Gibson
  • Tim Harper

2012 Environmental Ambassadors

2012 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alicea Settlemoir
  • Alicia Luebbers
  • Alison Crim
  • Amanda Knight
  • Brooke Patton
  • Cheyenne Adams
  • Christian Hidrobo
  • Christy Lozzo
  • Ellen Esling
  • Gina Opper
  • James Buron
  • Jeffery Heim
  • Kaia Pirazzini
  • Kerry McLeran
  • Kristen Taylor
  • Lacey Gibson
  • Lauren Adams
  • Leah Shirley
  • Lucas Garcia
  • Mark Hermann
  • Martin Wilson
  • Mary Petrizzo
  • Mitchell Vaughan
  • Morgan Schulte
  • Rachel Hatfield
  • Rebecca Filippini
  • Ryan Dillon
  • Sarah Baxter
  • Tamika Gibson
  • Timothy Harper

2011 Environmental Ambassadors

2011 Environmental Ambassadors:

  • Alexzandria Scanlan
  • Ashley Marchello
  • Brian Thietje
  • Chris Peters
  • Christian Hidrobo
  • Gabriel Garcia
  • Genevieve Gieser
  • James Naughton
  • Jason Mischke
  • Kimberly Rowan
  • Kory Garrie
  • Leah Shirley
  • Lucas Garcia
  • Martin Wilson
  • Melissa Flint
  • Michael Jakubowski
  • Nathan Speagle
  • Nicole Lence
  • Pawel Sawiki
  • Russell Cerocke
  • Ryan Casey
  • Theodore Peterson

2010 Environmental Ambassadors

2010 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alex Dover
  • Andrew Dennhardt
  • Ari Weiss
  • Brian Thietje
  • Eric Wilke
  • John Larson
  • Jon Dyer
  • Kyle Carevic
  • Lisa Thomas
  • Melissa Brandt
  • Nathan Speagle
  • Pawel Sawicki
  • Russell Cerocke
  • Ryan Grumish
  • Sarah Waggoner
  • Sherri Wurtzel
  • Tariq Whitaker
  • William Sutphin

2009 Environmental Ambassadors

2009 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Todd Carroll
  • Russell Cerocke
  • Karen Clauson
  • Andrew Dennhardt
  • Alex Dover
  • Jon Dyer
  • Adam Fedyski
  • Melissa Flint
  • Ryan Grummish
  • Sarah Heck
  • Felipe Pincheira
  • Ryan Pittenger
  • Megan Pulliam
  • Benjamin Wagar
  • Erik Wilke
  • Nicholas Longbucco

2008 Environmental Ambassadors

  2008 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Anita Eckhardt
  • Aspen D’Costa
  • Christopher Klarer
  • James Muhlhausen
  • Jason Carey
  • Jason Moore
  • Joe Batir
  • John Dyer
  • Karen Clauson
  • Katie Thomas
  • Krishna Balasubramanian
  • Kristen Thorpe
  • Leah Otten
  • Megan Pulliam
  • Sarah Jones
  • Steve McInnes

2007 Environmental Ambassadors

2007 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Eric White
  • Fahran Kathaleen Jaymes Robb
  • James Muhlhausen
  • Janine Gawel
  • Joe Batir
  • Samantah Bueltmann
  • Samantha Gorecki

2006 Environmental Ambassadors

2006 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Benjamin Grant
  • Chad Warner
  • Janine Gawel
  • Jennae DuBois
  • Karen Hine
  • Kristen Kelch
  • Megan Kutz
  • Sarah Owens
  • Sarah Sutton
  • Theo Sutton
  • Tina Novak
  • Travis Davidson

2005 Environmental Ambassadors

2005 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alex Borges
  • Charlie Werckle
  • Christen Jessen
  • Dan Reilley
  • Dave Mincemoyer
  • Dereka Ross
  • Erica Sharko
  • Joe Godina
  • Joe Greenleaf
  • Kate Bold
  • Nikki Basile
  • Pete Reilley
  • Tiffany Heil
  • Travis Davidson
  • Travis Smith
  • Valerie Rasp
  • Will Godina

2004 Environmental Ambassadors

2004 Environmental Ambassadors

  • AJ Cessena 
  • Alex Bartolomucci
  • Brooks Letchworth
  • Christin Jessen       
  • Destiny Nance
  • Jennae DuBois       
  • Jennifer Maas
  • Justin Maxson
  • Kim Stakal
  • Kris Schachel
  • Laurie Hanselmann
  • Megan Howard
  • Monica Schwartzkopf
  • Nicole wood
  • Scott Donovan
  • Sheena Harper
  • Sorrel Kunath
  • Tiffany Heil
  • Tracy McEvilly

2003 Environmental Ambassadors

2003 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Alex Perez
  • Michael Barth
  • Jessica Becker
  • Lisa Mitchell
  • Kris Schachel

2002 Environmental Ambassadors

2002 Environmental Ambassadors

  • Allen Dzurny
  • Betsy Christine Dunn
  • Corinne Kristoff
  • Danika Weatherly
  • Elisa Grafford
  • Gregory K. Brown
  • Jessica Becker
  • Lauren Kitover
  • Lisa Sonnenschein
  • Michael Barth
  • Michelle Zuro
  • Neal Young
  • Russell Brunner
  • Tammi Skalitzky

Other Sustainability Council Recognition

The Sustainability Collaborator award is given to an individual or group who has contributed greatly to advancing sustainability at SIU through collaboration with SIU Sustainability.

The Honorary Environmental Ambassador award is given to an individual who has shown outstanding dedication to sustainability through their work or activities on campus. Given in the spirit of the Student Environmental Ambassador Award, awardees have gone above and beyond their regular duties to promote a more sustainable SIU. 

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - SENSE

    SENSE receiving 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Angie Kuehl

    Angie Kuehl receives 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Rachel Miller

    Rachel Miller accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Dave Tippy

    Dave Tippy accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Steve Gariepy

    Steve Gariepy accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Elizabeth Donoghue

    Elizabeth Donoghue accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Larry Dunlap-Berg

    Larry Dunlap-Berg accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

  • 2024 Sustainability Collaborators - Christi Mathis

    Christi Mathis accepts 2024 Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award

Past Recipients

2019 Award Recipients

2019 Honorary Environmental Ambassador Award - Dr. Justin Schoof

Dr. Justin Schoof receiving the Honorary Environmental Ambassador Award  

2019 Sustainability Collaborators - Justin Harrell

Justin Harrell receiving the Sustainability Collaborator award

Tree Campus USA Committee

2019 Tree Campus USA Committee in front of morris library

2018 Sustainability Collaborators

Dental Hygiene Clinic - Amber Billings

Saluki Green Action Team Committee: Sally Wright, Amy McMorrow Hunter, and Christi Mathis

Sally Wright, Christi Mathis, and Amy McMorrow Hunter standing in front of morris library with their awards

2018 Honorary Environmental Ambassador Award - Ron Dunkel, Student Center Craft Shop.

Ron Dunkel receiving the Honorary Environmental Ambassador Award

2017 Sustainability Celebration Highlights

Representatives from Plant and Service Operations Building Services team accept a Sustainability Collaborators award.

Plant and Service Operations Building Services team receiving the sustainability collaborators award

Photo (left to right): Vice Chancellor Jim Garvey, Mike Brewer, Marianne Wilson, Student Sustainability Council Member Alyssa Kolenda, Sustainability Coordinator Geory Kurtzhals, Student Sustainability Council Member Amanda Marshall.

Sustainability Fellow Austin Nunn accepts a Sustainability Collaborators Award on behalf of the student design Registered Student Organization (RSO), AIGA for the group's work on campus wide recycling signage.

Austin Nunn receiving a Sustainability Collaborators Award

Paul Restivo accepts an honorary environmental ambassador award for his long-standing commitment to sustainability on the SIU campus.

Paul Restivo receiving an Environmental Ambassador Award

Photo (left to right): Vice Chancellor Jim Garvey, Paul Restivo, Sustainability Coordinator Geory Kurtzhals, Student Sustainability Council Members Alyssa Kolenda and Amanda Marshall.

2016 Sustainability Celebration Highlights

Members of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional coed business fraternity, are recognized for their collaboration with the Career Closet event.

Alpha Kappa Psi members, with the one in the center holding up the award

Dave Tippy, from SIU Grounds, accepts a Sustainabilty Collaboration Recognition Award for his team's support of the Football Tailgating Recycyling initiative.

Dave Tippy receiving the 2016 Sustainability Collaboration Recognition Award

Dr. Tao Huang (assistant professor, design), and her design processes and presentation class are recognized for their design support of the Innovation and Sustainability Hub.

Dr. Tao Huang and her design processes and presentation class being recognized with an award

Representatives from University Housing are recognized for numerous collaborations associated with sustainability. Accepting from University Housing are Chef Bill Connors, Brandon Macier, and Anna McNamara.   

members from University Housing being recognized with an award