October Edition: Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month! 🌎

 

October 2025 Photo Credit: Office of Sustainability, 2024 Happy Campus Sustainability Month, Terps! October is all about celebrating our campus commitment to a greener future and the progress we’ve made in making UMD more sustainable. All month long, you’ll find events, activities, and conversations that highlight how every Terp can make a difference in supporting our planet.  Don’t miss the chance to take part in the third annual Campus Sustainability Month celebration! Mark your calendars: On October 23rd from 1–3 pm, join the Office of Sustainability in Hornbake Plaza for games, prizes, and interactive activities with student organizations and departments. VISIT THE CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY MONTH WEBSITE New and Noteworthy Sustainability Fund Priority Applications due October 15! —  Have an idea for a greener UMD? The Sustainability Fund provides over $800,000 each year to support projects that advance sustainability. Since 2011, 198 projects have received over $4.6 million in funding. Only two weeks remain until the priority deadline— turn your vision into reality by applying! Click here to view past grant recipients. LEARN MORE AND APPLY Weed Warriors- Help Remove Invasive Species —  Want to get involved in conservation efforts on campus? Weed Warriors on Campus is a volunteer event open to all, hosting educational invasive species removal events. Each event includes an educational overview, a plant ID demo, and removal activities that improve the health of our campus ecosystem. Upcoming sessions run Saturday mornings this fall. WEED WARRIORS SIGN-UP Volunteer with the Campus Pantry —  On the first Thursday of the month between 9 am and 2 pm, The Campus Pantry (located on the ground floor of the South Campus Dining Hall) hosts a food hub that helps distribute food to neighborhood organizations. Volunteering at the Pantry is a great way to engage with your community. Sign up for an hour or the whole morning! SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER Safety is Not a Game: Level up Campus Road Safety! —  Join the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) in celebrating Safety Month this October! Whether you’re biking, scootering, or power-walking to class, following the road rules helps everyone get where they’re going safely. Check out events, demos, and giveaways all October long, and pledge to “share the road” for a chance to win prizes! DOTS SAFETY MONTH EVENTS Counseling Center’s Wellness Series —  UMD’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs Sept. 29th—Oct. 3rd, but the conversation continues all semester long! The Counseling Center’s Wellness Series offers 16 skills-based sessions on topics to support your well-being, held Tuesdays-Thursdays at 4pm through early December. Advanced registration is not required- just click the link and join at the time of the session. EXPLORE WELLNESS SERIES TOPICS Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break Transportation to New York, New Jersey & BWI —  The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) is once again offering safe, convenient and comfortable break transportation for students, now with new options for Fall Break! Reserve your seat on a sleek, fully equipped motor coach to New York, New Jersey or BWI. REGISTER FOR YOUR RIDE Upcoming Events Tuesday, October 7th 7:00pm–8:30pm Voxtopia: Sustainable Storytelling through Music Come together to explore your creativity and express your emotions about climate change through music. Join us for an evening of group circle singing and collaboration with Clarice Assad and fellow UMD community members. Please complete the registration form. Tuesday, October 14th 8:30am–4:00pm Climate Change, Health and Policy Symposium Spend a day of active learning with climate change and health equity leaders, UMD faculty and students, local nonprofits, and community groups. Connect with colleagues and community organizations, and take part in action-oriented discussions on climate, health equity, and environmental justice. Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman will deliver the keynote address. Be sure to register in advance here. Tuesday, October 21st 12:30pm–3:00pm Environmental & GIS Career Fair Looking for your next step in the environmental field? The Environmental Career & Internship Fair brings together students and employers hiring for full-time jobs, part-time jobs, and internships in policy, communication, research, GIS, conservation, and sustainability. RSVP! Wednesday, October 22nd, 6:00pm-7:00pm Career Chat: Agriculture Communications Explore the world of agricultural communications! Join College of AGNR alum, Katrina Stacey, Senior Communications Manager at Field to Market: the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. She’ll share her career journey, insights from her current role, and offer advice for breaking into and advancing in the field of ag communications. Learn more and register here. Thursday, October 23rd, 1:00pm-3:00pm Campus Sustainability Month Celebration Join us at Hornbake Plaza on Thursday, October 23rd, from 1-3 pm to celebrate campus sustainability with interactive activities, sweet treats, and the chance to earn Green Terp Bucket List pins while connecting with sustainability organizations. If your student organization or department would like to table at this event, fill out this Google Form! Wednesday, November 5th 1:00pm-3:00pm School of Public Health Career Expo Explore your future in public health at the UMD Public Health Career Expo on November 5th, 1-3pm. Meet employers, network with professionals, and discover career paths in areas like epidemiology, health policy, kinesiology, and global health. Don’t miss this chance to connect with opportunities that can shape your career! Don’t forget to register! Shareable Bytes  What We’re Reading: Ever heard of agrivoltaics? A Sustainability Fund-backed initiative is showing how farmland can grow food and generate clean solar energy simultaneously. Read more about this incredible innovation here.  Tip: Don’t toss your green onion scraps! Place the white root ends in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill and watch them sprout in just a few days. Keep them in water or transfer to soil, trim, and enjoy fresh green onions again and again!  Big News, Terps! According to the newly released AASHE 2025 Sustainable Campus Index, UMD is the top-ranked U.S. institution in the Research category under STARS 3.0! With a perfect score of 100%+, UMD was recognized for advancing sustainability through innovative research, campus collaboration, and solutions that drive a sustainable future. A student researcher in the School of Public Health collects data on water reuse for agriculture and climate solutions for vulnerable urban communities.

BCI 2026 Student Research Scholarship Program

Bat Conservation International (BCI) is now accepting proposals for the 2026 Student Research Scholarship Program from October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025. This annual scholarship grows the global capacity for bat research by providing financial support and professional development to M.Sc. and Ph.D. students to help further their educational and career goals. 

You can view more information about the scholarship program on BCI's website. Interested applicants can directly apply using the online application form here: https://smr.to/p60965. If you have any questions, please feel free to email scholarship@batcon.org or join our free BCI Student Scholar Slack community. 

[AGNR-UNDERGRADSTUDENTS] AGNR Weekly Announcements - 9/30/2025 🐢

 

Come Visit! We're always here to help! If it be your four year plan, class registration management, careers prep, or just to chat! We have peer mentors and full time staff that are ready to help you! -AGNR Academic Programs Team AGNR Undergraduate Blog Reminder:  Below is a digest of new Blog posts from the last week. To view the full blog and see all current postings, visit go.umd.edu/agnrblog or click any posting below! Additional career opportunities specifically for AGNR Students are listed in Handshake*. *Opportunities marked with an asterisk require login through Handshake

Featured Upcoming Events & Opportunities From the Blog: AGNR & Campus Involvement or Leadership: AGNR Tailgate - October 4th!  Sustainability Fund Review Committee (SFRC) -- Recruiting Student Members Leadership and Community Service Learning Opportunities Academic and Personal Support: Time Management Accountability Group Wellness Series Fall 2025 Career Development: Careers in GIS - 10/1 Mid Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Meeting 10/5-7 - Scholarships Available to attend International Plant Production Society (IPPS) Conference - Scholarships to Attend Environmental & GIS Career Fair - 10/21 Career Chat - Agriculture Communications - 10/22 AGNR Internships Outside the DMV - 10/29 Scholarships & Fellowships: PSPA Winter Memorial Scholarship Mar-Del Watermelon Queen Association Scholarship Farm Credit Scholarship Garden Club of America Scholarships Knight - Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University - Info Sessions NSF Graduate Research Fellowships - Start your Application! State Department Foreign Service/Masters Degree Fellowships Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIS) Fellowship Program The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (for Graduate studies) Gates-Cambridge Scholarships (for Graduate studies) Critical Language Scholarships for Summer 2026 (Study Abroad) Early Access - Boren Scholarships for Critical Languages (Study Abroad) Service Fellowships in Africa, Asia, and Latin America Truman Scholarships for Leadership/Public Service Lafayette Fellowship for Master's Study in France Jobs & Internship Postings: 2026 Turf Internship Opportunities at The Ridgewood Country Club Valley Moon farm Positions Farm Manager Position at Moon Valley Farm Delivery Driver at Moon Valley Farm Pack Crew at Moon Valley Farm Sustainability Internship Opportunity with Boeing On Campus internship - Dept of Geog Sciences, Campus Forest Carbon Project Landscaping and Nursery Production Job Fair - 9/26 Additional Experiential Learning: 2026 Spring Break in Brazil: Recorded Info Session & Scholarships UMD's Database of Undergraduate Research Opportunities Career Development & Exploration Explore More Opportunities Jobs in the College of AGNR Some opportunities may cover more than one topic, such as a research internship. If you're looking for specific opportunities, check under the labels listed on the right side of our blog site.

[AGNR-UNDERGRADSTUDENTS] Funding Opportunity - AGNR Experiential Learning Fund

 Greetings AGNR Undergrads! 

Did you know we have an AGNR Experiential Learning Fund that can help cover costs of professional or leadership experiences related to your future?

The AGNR Experiential Learning Fund was established to provide support for students pursuing opportunities beyond the classroom to connect their academic pursuits to the real world and equip them to be career-ready professionals. Our priority funding areas include helping to cover costs of attending professional conferences or institutes, supporting students who are working unpaid internships, and creating access to other career and leadership development experiences.

The Experiential Learning Fund is open year-round with applications being reviewed at the first of each month. Students may apply for up to $500 each semester. Students are eligible to apply providing they meet the following criteria:

• Students must be enrolled in a major within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources --
• ENSP students with a declared concentration housed in BSOS or CMNS are unfortunately not eligible
• Preference is given to undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor's degree or a Certificate in Applied Agriculture
• Students must apply individually, not as a group or club
• Students must currently be, and remain, in good academic standing and be making progress towards their degree
• Students must have at least one academic semester remaining prior to graduation to receive support

Learn more and apply now at the link below. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

https://agnr.umd.edu/undergraduate/fund-your-education/ 

Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA) Climate Tech Exchange

The Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA) Climate Tech Exchange  on October 14 for the 2025.  Registration is free and the event will be at the  College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (3501 University Blvd East, Hyattsville, Maryland 20783).  There are currently 56 spaces left.

https://www.mdcleanenergy.org/events/2025-maryland-clean-energy-summit/climate-tech-exchange/

[NEBWG Listserv] Job opportunity with Bat Conservation International

 Hey all - BCI has a job opening for a Compliance Team Lead.  You would get to work with a great group of folks on positive habitat restoration projects with a variety of partners.  Link to the announcement is below.  

Compliance Team Lead https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=4f1d76c0-c801-4a5e-879d-35f46070697c&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=605000&lang=en_US

SCHOLARHIP! Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement

 The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is offering scholarships to those currently enrolled in a two or four year higher education program, with plans to pursue a career in agriculture. This doesn’t have to mean you’re planning to be a farmer – this also includes food scientists, wildlife techs, ag teachers, environmental economists, sustainable agriculture consultants, soil conservationists, or maybe even a Farm Credit loan officer! Students can receive this scholarship up to four times.

In order to be eligible, you must reside in Horizon Farm Credit’s territory, made up of the following states/counties: Delaware, Maryland (Baltimore, Carroll, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester), Pennsylvania, Virginia (Accomack, Clarke, Frederick, Northampton, Page, Shenandoah, Warren), West Virginia (Berkeley, Brooke, Hancock, Jefferson, Marshall, Morgan, Ohio), or Washington D.C.

Our 2026 scholarship application is currently open and will close on Friday, January 2.

UMD doesn't typically have a lot of applicants and the applicant pool isn't that large, meaning that there could be a decent amount of money open to students ($10K range) who bother to apply.