Sustainability Grants: Prior Recipients

We are extremely grateful to our faculty and staff who make donations to the faculty and staff grant fund. These funds, along with revenue collected from parking meters on the Dandini Campus, support these important grant projects.

See Also: Sustainability Grant Procedures and Guidelines

Sustainability Grant Winners: 2023-24

  1. BeeBQ | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    Requested by Cecilia Vigil, Megan Lathi, Pamela Flynn, Dillon Barnett and Jentre Taber
    Through this interdisciplinary project, biology and welding students and faculty will create an anatomical design of a bee that will serve as an art piece and an operating barbecue located in the Native Pollinator Garden at the Countess Angela Dandini Gardens.
  2. Family Research Books | Amount Awarded: $500
    Requested by Suzanne Malek
    The TMCC Family History Research Room located in the Learning Commons will purchase more books about Hispanic, Native American and African American heritage to create more equitable representation and contribute to social sustainability.
  3. Single Use Plastics Project | Amount Awarded: $350
    Requested by Brianne Lee and Cecilia Vigil
    This project raises awareness regarding a new TMCC initiative to reduce single-use plastics. Students will work with instructors to submit a proclamation to the City of Reno declaring TMCC a single-use plastic-free institution. The funds will also be used to purchase sustainable/recyclable promotional materials and supplies for the Earth Day event.
  4. Refillable Sunscreen Station and Garden | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    Requested by Keri Meranda
    The TMCC E.L. Cord Child Care Center will purchase two sunscreen dispensing stations and refill them to provide children with all-natural, eco-friendly, reef-safe, broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30. The outdoor garden will be refurbished with flowers and vegetables.
  5. DSS Environmental Speaker | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    Requested by Brianne Lee and Adine Stormoen
    In collaboration with the TMCC STEM Society Student Club and the Dianne Dodd Cheseldine Distinguished Speaker Series, a local environmental speaker will be invited to speak on a topic such as recycling and food waste.
  6. Re-Imagine Student RSO, Composting and Utensils | Amount Awarded: $666
    Requested by Marynia Giren-Navarro and Riley Sherman
    This grant will aid in the creation of the Re-Imagine Sustainability RSO for the spring semester and the purchase of two composters and recyclable utensils.
  7. Desert Farming Initiative/Produce Purchase for Wizard’s Warehouse | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    Requested by Katie Paul and Becca Franssen
    The Wizard’s Warehouse will partner with the Desert Farming Institute and their Farm to Pantry Program to provide sustainably grown fresh produce during the Spring semester.

Sustainability Grant Winners: 2022-23

We received 14 grant requests totaling $9,500 and all of them were funded. Unfortunately, one of the recipients was unable to complete her project and returned the funds, therefore the final amount awarded was $9,000 for 13 projects.

  1. TMCC Day at the Legislature | Amount Awarded: $500
    Students, faculty and staff participated in TMCC Day at the Legislature in Carson City to share their stories and concerns with elected officials. Biodegradable promotional materials including TMCC stickers and reusable pull-up banners were purchased to promote TMCC at this event and materials were “recycled” for future marketing and recruitment events.
  2. Beautification at Meadowood | Amount Awarded: $350
    In the spirit of TMCC’s Year of Sustainability, students in an ELL class read a book titled “Seedfolks,” which features a group of diverse individuals that collaborate by planting a community garden in their neighborhood. To mirror this book, the ELL class participated in a beatification project at Meadowood. Twenty-nine plants along with fertilizer and other supplies were purchased to complete the project.
  3. Sustainable Utensils for Earth Day | Amount Awardedded: $500
    TMCC’s Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability Department purchased reusable wheat utensil sets to distribute during Earth Day.
  4. EDUC 201 Challenge Island Learning Experience | Amount Awarded: $150
    TMCC’s EDUC 201 students received STEM training about renewable energy modes of transportation, which they can incorporate into future lesson plans.
  5. Pet Waste Station with Biodegradable Bags | Amount Awarded: $500
    A mini pet waste station along with biodegradable bags were installed at the Meadowood location by the Veterinary Nursing Program. The clean-up of waste will keep the outdoor area clean.
  6. Farm to Pantry Program for Wizard’s Warehouse | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    The Student Resource Committee partnered with the Desert Farming Institute (DFI) to grow sustainable produce for Wizard’s Warehouse. This farm to pantry program produced 20 cases of fresh produce for TMCC’s food pantry.
  7. Reusable Table Linens, Cups and Glasses | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    Reusable plastic cups, reusable coffee mugs and 12 linen-blend table cloths for TMCC spring/fall kickoff events reduced the waste from these events. This also provides significant cost savings and sustainability as the tablecloths will not need to be rented or dry cleaned with chemicals.
  8. Sustainable Items for Board of Regents Meeting at TMCC | Amount Awarded: $500
    The Board of Regents held their September meeting at TMCC and we welcomed them with reusable items to be used while on campus. A few of the items were related to bees to encourage support of TMCC’s Bee Campus designation.
  9. Sustainability Presenters for Dianne Dodd Cheseldine Speaker Series | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    The Dianne Dodd Cheseldine Speaker Series brings notable speakers to TMCC. The spring presentation featured a sustainable fashion designer and a Fall 2023 presentation will feature a conservation photographer.
  10. TMCC Native Pollinator Garden Plants | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    This project provided direct support for the TMCC Native Pollinator Garden by funding the purchase of 50 native plants and anti-herbivory wire cages. The Pollinator Garden indirectly supports TMCC’s Bee Campus USA designation, curriculum for several biology courses, undergraduate research, and a peaceful garden for people to visit.
  11. TMCC Learning Commons Family History Research Books| Amount Awarded: $500
    Books were purchased for equitable representation of families from Mexico, Central and South America. These books will contribute to sustainability in that it will help the Learning Commons reach its goal of equity, diversity and social cohesion.
  12. Sustainable Lunch Containers | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    In the spirit of TMCC’s Year of Sustainability, BPA free seal tight lunch containers were purchased and distributed at the National First-Generation College Celebration Day event on Nov. 8th. This will inspire healthier lunch/snack options and reduce waste to keep trash out of the landfill.
  13. Sustainability Field Trip to Idlewild Park | Amount Awarded: $1,000
    This collaborative project involved TMCC EDU students, WCSD classes, and the KTMB non-profit organization. TMCC students augmented their field experience with WCSD classes by participating in a local field trip hosted by KTMB promoting sustainability.