UA Little Rock Awards Sustainability Grants to Fund Innovative Campus Projects
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced the latest recipients of its sustainability grants, which support innovative projects aimed at promoting environmental responsibility on campus.
These grants, awarded annually, fund initiatives up to $2,500 that focus on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and the integration of sustainable practices into the university’s operations and curriculum. This year’s grants support four creative ideas from students and faculty that foster sustainable practices and enhance the university’s commitment to a greener future.
Dr. Kyungsun Lee, assistant professor of geography and chair of the grant judging committee, said she was delighted to see numerous outstanding proposals for this year’s sustainability grants.
“It is truly encouraging to see our campus community – students, staff, and faculty – coming forward with innovative ideas spanning water resources, waste management, ecology, and energy solutions to enhance UA Little Rock’s sustainability,” Lee said. “The quality and diversity of these projects reflect our community’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and we look forward to seeing their implementation over the coming year.”
Lane Epperson, a biology student, received a grant to enhance campus biodiversity and support local wildlife populations by installing bat boxes along Coleman Creek and owl boxes across the UA Little Rock campus. The project promotes natural pest control through ecosystem services, as both bats and owls effectively manage insect and rodent populations without chemical interventions.
Morgan Leyenberger, an instructor of social work, received a grant to purchase a food composter to reduce food waste for faculty, staff, and students in the School of Social Work.
“This is a faculty and student project. Officers from Phi Alpha, our social work honor society, researched the composter and chose the one we plan to purchase,” Leyenberger said. “They also plan to develop a marketing campaign to encourage students and employees in social work to use it. We want to encourage people to use the compost for their plants and home gardens. The students are very excited about the sustainability project. They plan to hold a contest to name the composter. They are social work students, so of course they plan to anthropomorphize the composter.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Heather Black, assistant professor of geology, will use her grant funding to conduct a comprehensive assessment of drinking water on campus. Black will collect and analyze samples from all buildings on campus, and the findings will contribute to understanding campus infrastructure and potentially guide future maintenance and improvement decisions.
“I’m very excited to receive this $1,500 grant as we currently do not have drinking water quality monitoring on campus, so this will be the first step to ensure our water is of the best possible quality in the future,” Black said.
Colby Martinez, a mechanical engineering major, received a grant to install solar-powered charging stations throughout campus that will provide students, employees, and visitors with access to renewable energy for their electronic devices. The initiative demonstrates a practical approach to sustainability, aiming to reduce the university’s carbon footprint while making renewable energy technology visible and accessible in daily campus life.
“Grant recipients will showcase their project progress at the upcoming Earth Day Event on April 22,” Lee said, who noted that another round of grant funding will open during the Fall 2025 semester. “If you have ideas for improving campus sustainability, hold onto them and apply in the fall.”