UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Since 2012, the Student Sustainability Advisory Council (SSAC) recognizes a Penn State University Park student every spring semester, for their overall leadership in sustainability initiatives and for making a difference in the campus community. This year’s 2025 SSAC Tree Award recipient is agricultural engineering student Gavin Maxson.
When Maxson first arrived at Penn State, his understanding of sustainability was very limited, he said. However, once he got involved with sustainability on campus, his perspective changed. Maxson said he learned what intersectional sustainability is, and that being sustainable and caring for the campus environment can be something as simple as holding a door open for someone.
Reflecting on his accomplishment, Gavin shared, “To me, the [Tree] award symbolizes my growth here at Penn State, and the fact that the sustainability community helped me to flourish into the person that I am, incredibly proud of, today.”
The Tree Award is presented to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student(s) from University Park. The ceremony includes both the recipient and members of the SSAC planting a tree on campus and recognition at the Sustainability Summit Awards Ceremony. In addition to receiving and planting a tree honored in their name, the recipient also receives a cash reward. The tree is donated by the Office of Physical Plant and supported by Student Affairs and Penn State Sustainability.
Jacob Seiler, co-chair for SSAC reflects on the newest Tree Award recipient, stating, “Gavin represents everything the Tree Award is about. He has been such a strong, consistent, reliable leader in the sustainability community, and he always does that work with kindness and joy. Gavin leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to sustainability at Penn State, and it's exciting to know we have a new tree on campus to celebrate his leadership and impact to this University.”
If you wish to nominate a student who embodies sustainability at Penn State University Park, SSAC opens the nomination form early in the spring semester. Any student, faculty or staff member can nominate a candidate(s) for the Tree Award Interested in learning more about the work the Student Sustainability Advisory Council is doing? Visit the SSAC website.