LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2025) — The annual Sustainability Showcase, recently presented by the Office of Sustainability, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment and the Office of Undergraduate Research, was a celebration of the incredible sustainability work happening across the University of Kentucky campus. From research and student initiatives to operations and community engagement, the awards recognize passionate students, faculty, staff and community members who are helping to shape a more sustainable future at UK.
“I have never believed more deeply in the promise of this university because of its people than I do right now,” said Shane Tedder, director of sustainability and facility services and assistant director of the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment. “I’ve never been prouder of the collective accomplishments of those gathered at the showcase or more committed to doing everything I can to channel support and resources to sustainability.”
Five teams of UK faculty and staff were selected to receive Sustainability Challenge Grants totaling more than $150,000. The Sustainability Challenge Grant program is designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the university community in the creation and implementation of ideas that will promote sustainability on campus and in the local community. This year’s recipients are:
The Yanarella Levine Legacy Award, named for retired political science professor Ernie Yanarella, Ph.D., and retired College of Design faculty member Richard Levine, recognizes members of the UK community who have contributed a tremendous body of work supporting a legacy of sustainability at the university and beyond. The 2025 award was presented to Ibrahim Jawahir, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and director of the Institute of Sustainable Manufacturing in the College of Engineering.
“For more than three decades at the University of Kentucky, Professor I.S. Jawahir has built a far-reaching legacy in sustainable manufacturing — one that advances UK’s mission on campus and resonates across academia and industry worldwide,” wrote Jawahir’s nominator Fazleena Badurdeen, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Students from all majors had the opportunity to submit their sustainability-focused research to the annual Sustainability Research Poster Competition, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Six winners were announced at the event:
The University of Kentucky also awarded its inaugural Distinguished Partner Award to Coca-Cola. The award honors a partner from the private sector who has made significant contributions to the university’s sustainability efforts. Since 2017, as part of their pouring rights contract with UK, Coca-Cola has provided $25,000 annually in support of sustainability through their Student Influence Program. Projects that have received support through this partnership include:
“Congratulations to all of our award winners and deep gratitude to all the legacy builders who joined us for the event,” Tedder said. “The sustainability work that is being done is more important now than ever before, and I applaud all who are taking on the challenge to make a difference.”
The fall Sustainability Office Certification Program awardees were also honored. Learn more about the program and winners at sustainability.uky.edu/community-engagement/sustainable-office-certification-program.
Learn more about UK Sustainability and its initiatives at sustainability.uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
Seth Thompson, a graduate student in geophysics, was the People’s Choice award winner for the Graduate Poster Competition at the Sustainability Showcase.
Jennifer T. Allen
Utilities and Energy Management, UK HealthCare and Stryker Sustainability, UK HealthCare Sustainability, UK-CARES and the UK Center for the Environment took part in the exhibitor showcase.
UK HealthCare and Stryker Sustainability were part of the exhibitor showcase. Leslie Anaskevich, representing UK HealthCare, spoke with an attendee along with Kristy McMillan, right, hospital clinical operations director.
From left, Richard Levine and Ernie Yanarella presented Ibrahim Jawahir with the Yanarella Levine Legacy Award.
The annual Sustainability Showcase was a celebration of the incredible sustainability work happening across the University of Kentucky campus.