University of Colorado Boulder
Ralphie's Green Stampede
Finalist, Student engagement
About
Ralphie’s Green Stampede (RGS) is CU Boulder’s student-led sports sustainability program, operated by CU Athletics, the Environmental Center, and Facilities Management. It advances a framework centered on environmental impact, social responsibility, and resource efficiency, while engaging hundreds of students and community members each year. Since 2008, RGS has mobilized over 3,500 student volunteers, 1,000 staff, and 500 community members. It has established a lasting zero-waste tradition at CU athletic events, diverting more than 1 million pounds of material through recycling and composting. RGS has also helped catalyze broader sustainability leadership, including LEED Platinum athletics facilities and the net-zero Ford Practice Facility—among the first of its kind in the U.S. Nationally, RGS has advanced sustainability in college athletics as a co-founder of the Green Sports Alliance, a driver of Pac-12 Team Green, and the first North American university to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
Top 3 learnings
- We learned that students engage deeply when given ownership, not just direction.
- We learned that students stay engaged when they see their direct impact on gameday.
- We learned that when activated, student values can drive institutional change beyond campus community.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Student engagement | |
| Finalist, International |
