Abundance at the Inspiring Sustainability Awards! Announcing our 2026 winners!
What a fantastic night at the 2026 Inspiring Sustainability Awards! This vibrant event was all about celebrating the incredible community efforts in sustainability and reminding ourselves of the abundance that sustainability can bring.
The Inspiring Sustainability Awards began in 2010 through Coulee Partners for Sustainability (as the Harvest Dinner) and has 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)
As our board reviewed this year's finalists, we recognized something special: the vast range, impact and abundance of their work made it difficult to narrow the field. The five finalists represent different approaches and areas of expertise, but they share a deep commitment to making our region a more connected, more sustainable and thriving place to live.
So, rather than choosing just two, our board leaned into the theme of the night "abundance" and we proudly announced that all five finalists - Pat Wilson, Alysa Remsburg, Ethos Green Power Cooperative, Roz Schnick and Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations are the winners of the 2026 Inspiring Sustainability Awards!
DR. ALYSA REMSBURG
Alysa has spent years helping students turn sustainability into action through her teaching and mentorship in UW–La Crosse's Sustainability and Environmental Studies Program. She is a passionate advocate for ecological literacy and a community ecologist. Alysa brings curiosity and care to everything she does. Beyond the classroom she has been involved with initiatives like the Solar on La Crosse Schools and the Hįnųkwas Tree Trail. She is helping build a more sustainable future while empowering the next generation of changemakers.
PAT WILSON
Pat has helped champion the protection and care of the natural spaces that make our region so special. He has served as an avid volunteer and board member across numerous local conservation and nature based organizations committing countless hours of support including: La Crosse Board of Park Commissioners, Sierra Club, Friends of the Marsh, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and of course Friends of the Blufflands just to name a few! Through local conservation efforts and the Bluffland Coalition, Pat is helping preserve our bluffs and the ecological treasures that future generations deserve to enjoy.
DYNAMIC LIFECYCLE INNOVATIONS
Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations is helping our community rethink what happens to the electronics and materials we no longer need. Through its free community e-waste recycling events, Dynamic makes it easier for residents to keep potentially hazardous materials out of landfills. By recovering and responsibly managing these materials, Dynamic is conserving resources, reducing waste, and building a more circular economy. It is easy to see as their footprint has expanded, their work has created inspiration far beyond our community.
ROZ SCHNICK
Roz has dedicated more than 50 years to environmental stewardship, showing us what a lifetime of commitment and leadership to the natural world can look like. Her work with the Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership brings people together around pollinator conservation and reminds us that a lasting commitment to the environment can continue to inspire new action. She has invested time and time again in our community through her service, philanthropy and sustainability advocacy, providing an abundance of inspiration.
ETHOS GREEN POWER COOPERATIVE
Ethos Green Power Cooperative is helping make clean energy more accessible while showing what community-centered sustainability looks like in practice. Through solar energy and energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions, Ethos is helping reduce environmental impacts and create a cleaner energy future for our region. What is especially inspiring is the passion Ethos brings to this work through their employees who recognize that sustainability extends beyond environmental impact. Ethos shows that sustainability also means creating sustainable workplaces, wages, relationships and communities where people can thrive. Now that’s inspiring!
