On Thursday, April 24th, students, faculty, and staff from all corners of the University gathered for Notre Dame’s 2nd Annual Sustainability Celebration to honor the collective achievements of campus sustainability champions and recognize both external and internal partners who are leaders in their respective fields.

Vice President for University Operations, Events, and Safety Mike Seamon opened up the evening’s award ceremony with reflections on the sustainability work of Notre Dame students, faculty, and staff. “We’re here today to heed the call to action that Pope Francis asked of all of us—to care for our common home—and Notre Dame’s students, faculty, and staff are a testament to our dedication to this work… I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and I am excited for the future of sustainability at Notre Dame and the impact we will have globally through the future leaders we are cultivating here on campus.”

Following remarks from Seamon and other leaders on campus, the ceremony recognized key internal partners and those receiving the External Partnership Sustainability Awards. The award categories recognize the holistic nature of sustainability work, keeping in mind the three sustainability pillars: ecological, human, and economic health. Procurement Services and Notre Dame Sustainability presented upcycled slate roof tile plaques to five deserving organizations. The awardees were as follows:

A Bite With Mee received the Bridging to Business Award. This recognition honors a partner who not only provides goods and services to the University with the highest level of customer service, but also serves as a model partner for other local small businesses. Robyn “Mee Sun” and her partner Jairo built A Bite With Mee from the ground up, planting roots right here in South Bend with the hope of giving something special to the Michiana region. They’ve done just that, using healthy, local, and organic ingredients to craft dishes that are both nutritious and delicious, while building community and fostering connections, especially those at Notre Dame. A Bite With Mee has shown that sustainability and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand, and their work continues the inspirational mission of creating educational awareness one bite at a time.

Insinkerator was recognized with the Innovative Food Solutions Award. They served as a core partner to install three Grind2Energy systems on campus. These systems allow culinary staff to avoid sending food waste to the landfill by processing it into a slurry, which is sent to a local farm where it’s converted into renewable energy, fertilizers, and cow bedding. Insinkerator continues to support the campus Grind2Energy systems, which contribute heavily to the University's sustainability efforts by reducing the environmental impact of food waste.

The Wellness Center was recognized with the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Award. The Wellness Center provides best-in-class healthcare and pharmacy services for University faculty, staff, and dependents. The commitment to equity and accessibility supports the fundamental human right to health and well-being, and its services help to eliminate barriers and make it possible for University employees to be part of a healthier and more just community.

Stantec was honored with the Resilience and Climate Impact Reduction Award, recognizing an outstanding partner whose work supports the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through the installation of native pollinator spaces, Stantec has helped to supplement our campus landscaping. This partnership has spanned nearly a decade, and you can see examples of their work out across the edges of campus, notably in the Sculpture Garden, encircling the Compton Ice Arena, and near Transportation Services. These spaces support local biodiversity, require fewer pesticides, sequester carbon, and reduce both erosion and landscaping costs.

Finally, KFI Engineers was recognized with the Operational Excellence Award for a partner whose work aligns with long-term University goals and operations. KFI Engineers has supported many of Notre Dame’s most impactful decarbonization efforts, including the groundbreaking ND Hydro project on the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend, the combustion gas turbines that helped the University move away from coal, the new West Campus Solar Array, and the geothermal network expansion project. KFI’s contributions to these projects have helped the University to reduce carbon emissions by 48% since 2005 as Notre Dame works toward a 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

Attendees of the event also celebrated internal partners across the campus. Notable areas of recognition included staff in Building Services who have helped expand our recycling program, and the Dining Halls’ staff members contributing to reducing our food waste and working hard to keep food out of the landfills. In both cases, front-line team members were celebrated for the work that they do - day in and day out - to contribute to the mission of caring for our common home. "It is important to recognize that there are many people who are working every day, as a part of their normal jobs, to help care for our common home," said Executive Director of Sustainability Geory Kurtzhals. "Our Sustainability Celebration serves to elevate and show gratitude to both external and internal partners who are making our campus a more sustainable place to thrive.”

Year-round, Notre Dame Sustainability encourages the campus community to elevate internal colleagues to be considered for our Sustainability Spotlight! You can nominate them to be featured in our monthly newsletter, The Green Ambassador. To stay up to speed with what is happening on campus, join the newsletter mailing list. Learn more about employee opportunities for sustainability involvement by visiting our staff and faculty resources page.

Originally published by Olivia Farrington & John Kalemkerian at green.nd.edu on May 05, 2025.