Announcing the 2025 Inspiring Sustainability Award Winners!

The 2025 Inspiring Sustainability Awards at La Crosse Distilling Co. was a night filled with magnetic energy. It was a fun, uplifting, and connective gathering where people came together to refill their cups and celebrate the incredible sustainability work happening across our community. The evening radiated warmth and appreciation as we honored this year’s nominees and revealed the award winners for 2025.

The Inspiring Sustainability Awards began in 2010 through Coulee Partners for Sustainability (as the Harvest Dinner) and have been proudly continued by the Sustainability Institute since 2018. Each year, the awards recognize individuals, organizations, and projects that demonstrate exceptional leadership in sustainability - leadership that inspires action within our community and beyond. (see past award winners)

This year, 16 community nominations were submitted across a variety of areas of sustainability. Congratulations to all the nominees for their inspiring work! (read about the nominees)

From these nominations, the Sustainability Institute Executive Board selecting one individual and one organizational winner for 2025.

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Without any more delay, let's announce the recipients of the

2025 Inspiring Sustainability Awards!

We are thrilled to announce that the Individual Winner of the 2025 Inspiring Sustainability Awards is Kaarina Dunn!

A three-time recipient of the City of La Crosse’s Youth Climate Action Grant, Kaarina has led several impressive initiatives, including Restoring Our Shores, Upcycle Our Symphony, and Learn to Live Local. Through these projects, she incorporated sustainable practices into her youth symphony concert, launched a summer camp to teach local youth about living sustainably, and lead efforts to restore a section of the Mississippi River shoreline.

Kaarina’s leadership extends beyond these projects. She founded her high school’s renewable energy club which won the Innovation Award at the state KidWind Competition. She has also taken a courageous step as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit fighting fossil fuel-enabling laws in Wisconsin.

At the heart of all Kaarina’s work is her commitment to education and youth empowerment. Whether speaking publicly about climate issues or collaborating with local sustainability groups, she continually finds ways to engage and inspire others to take action.

We want to recognize Kaarina as a part of the next generation of sustainability leadership. Her drive and hands-on approach remind us that meaningful change often begins right in our own backyards.

We couldn't be more excited to announce The Nature Place as the 2025 Inspiring Sustainability Award Organizational Winner!

The Nature Place has become a true hub for nature education and community connection in the La Crosse region. With a strong focus on youth engagement, they spark curiosity and nurture care for the natural world through environmental education, community programs, citizen science, and land stewardship.

Offering a wide variety of programs throughout the year, The Nature Place reaches people of all ages and background - whether through school partnerships, family events, outdoor workshops, or volunteer opportunities. Their strong collaboration with local organizations helps amplify sustainability efforts across the community, creating lasting partnerships that strengthen the region’s environmental network.

Behind it all is a dedicated team of staff whose passion and commitment to their mission are evident in everything they do. Their work ensures that The Nature Place remains a welcoming space for all, where students study, families explore, visitors pick up free garden produce, and community groups come together to learn and connect.

By creating a space that blends learning, collaboration, and care for the planet, The Nature Place stands as a cornerstone for fostering deeper connections with our natural ecosystem. Congratulations to their entire team for inspiring our community to stay connected to nature every day, in every season.

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Once again, we would like to extend our congratulations to the winners and express our gratitude to all the nominees for the inspiring work they do that motivates us to continue on our path towards sustainability.

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