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On October 31, 2025, the ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Masters of the Environment (MENV) program hosted its annual Capstone Symposium, a culminating event that showcased the passion, creativity, and applied expertise of this year’s graduating class. Held both in-person at the SEEC building and virtually, the symposium brought together students, faculty, alumni, and sustainability leaders from across Colorado and beyond to celebrate solutions-driven environmental work.

Inspiring Keynotes from Sustainability Leaders

The morning began with a warm welcome and two keynote presentations from Cara Carmichael and Chris Steinkamp, each offering powerful reflections on leadership in climate action.Ìý

Carmichael, ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ’s Associate Vice Chancellor of Sustainability and a two-time CU alumna, shared insights from her 20-year career advancing systemic sustainability solutions across federal and local levels. Drawing from her experience at the White House and Rocky Mountain Institute, she emphasized the importance of bold, collaborative action to achieve lasting environmental progress.

Steinkamp, Executive Director of Mountain Towns 2030, inspired the audience with stories from his work mobilizing communities toward carbon neutrality. With roots in the outdoor recreation industry, he spoke about the power of uniting local governments, ski resorts, and businesses around a shared vision for a clean energy future.

Adding to the momentum, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse attended the event as a surprise final keynote speaker, reflecting the strong connection between academic applied-work and policy leadership. His presence underscored how student work — like that being showcased — intersects with broader national discussions on sustainability, climate resilience, and environmental equity. His participation helped frame the day not just as a student celebration, but as a bridge between emerging professionals and public-policy arenas.

Honoring a Longstanding Partner in Regenerative Agriculture

MENV's inaugural Capstone Partner Recognition Award was presented to Mad Agriculture, a six-time collaborator with the MENV program. Accepting the award was Tanner Starbard (MENV ’19), Chief Financial Officer of Mad Ag, who has worked closely with current students to advance regenerative farming practices at Haystack Farms. Their ongoing partnership exemplifies how MENV’s applied projects foster real-world impact—bridging classroom learning with community and industry transformation.

Showcasing Student Innovation Across Sectors

Following the keynote and awards, attendees explored five rounds of concurrent sessions, where student teams presented capstone projects developed in partnership with organizations across Colorado and the nation.

This year's themes were Private Sector Sustainability Solutions, Water Advocacy, Enhancing Climate Resilience, Local Government in Action, and Powering the Future. Highlights from the day included:

• Collaborations with the Denver Climate Action Office on electrifying neighborhoods;
• Research with the Colorado Water Trust on restoring urban river flows;
• Partnerships with OneEnergy Renewables and the National Renewable Energy Lab to advance clean power solutions; and
• Projects with Z2 Entertainment and Boomtown Innovation on sustainability in culture and tech sectors.

These projects underscore MENV’s mission: to prepare students for impactful environmental careers through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that directly benefits partner organizations and communities.

A Community Committed to Change

The Capstone Symposium is not just an academic showcase — it’s a celebration of a community committed to advancing sustainability in every sector and at every scale.

Faculty advisors, capstone partners, alumni, and students came together to share not only results but relationships — connections built through months of fieldwork, research, and problem-solving alongside organizations working on the front lines of environmental change.Ìý

As MENV Program Director Natalie Ooi reflected, this event demonstrates what can happen when education is rooted in collaboration and purpose:

"The capstone symposium is a celebration of our MENV community and the incredible impact that the program has in advancing sustainability solutions and climate action. Bringing together partners from across the public, private and non-profit sectors, our student projects showcase innovative ideas, detailed research, and robust community stakeholder engagement, resulting in actionable plans, key policy takeaways, and replicable toolkits that help our partners move from ideas to action and help to accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable and equitable future."

The day’s energy captured the essence of the MENV experience — learning by doing, leading through partnership, and driving impact that lasts. Whether advancing renewable energy, protecting ecosystems, or reimagining resilient communities, the Class of 2025’s projects embodied the shared belief that meaningful climate action requires all of us.

Acknowledgments

MENV extends heartfelt thanks to Cara Carmichael, Congressman Joe Neguse, and Chris Steinkamp for joining us as keynote speakers and inspiring our community with their leadership and insights. We’re also deeply grateful to Tanner Starbard and the Mad Agriculture team for their years of partnership and commitment to regenerative solutions.

Thank you to our capstone partners for making these projects possible, our faculty advisors for their mentorship and guidance, and all attendees—both in person and virtual—for supporting our students not only today but throughout their journey.

Finally, we extend a special thank you to Alice Reznickova, Capstone Lead, and her incredible team—Casey Chabot, Ashley Lehto, and Cass Mendoza—for stewarding another outstanding year of capstone projects, partnerships, and programs.

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