The 4th annual Golden Gorge Awards celebrated the achievements, ideas, and innovations of Cornell University's incredible student sustainability leaders and organizations.

The event was co-hosted by the Environmental Collaborative (ECO) and the Campus Sustainability Office to celebrate the accomplishments of graduating seniors and recognize the important role all students play in creating a more sustainable campus, future, and world. The one-hour ceremony featured guest speakers: Lynden Archer (Dean of the College of Engineering) and Luis Aguirre Torres (Director of Sustainability for the City of Ithaca).

There was an incredible pool of over 40 nominations this year, and for the first time ever, included Honorable Mentions for some of the categories.

Full list of this year’s award winners can be found here or in the short summary below.

2021 Golden Gorge Award Winners

Rookie of the Year: Nelson Ooi 

• Honorable Mention: Amy Vleminckx 

Member of the Year: Erin Huang 

• Honorable Mention: Raquel Morehouse 

Advisor of the Year : Sam Benson 

Event of the Year: Climate Justice Cornell's Rally for the Climate & Community Investment Act 

Initiative of the Year: Cornell’s Food Recovery Network 

• Honorable Mention: Gregory Brumberg 

Ripple Effect Award: Alice Soewito 

• Honorable Mention: Zasu Scott 

JUST Award: The Egg-Vengers

Life Gives You Lemons Award (Formerly known as Biggest Fail):The Steminist Movement for The Sustainability Summit

• Honorable Mention: Harshita Mahendra, Sebastian Sanchez, and Clara Fontaine 

Organization of the Year: Cornell Compost 

• Honorable Mention: Anabel’s Grocery