The Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges lists Augustana University

It’s a warm and sunny August morning on campus. Senior Andrew Berntson gears up in his protective full-body suit to check the two hives on campus. At this time, the bees are out foraging for resources–pollen, nectar and water. They call the two wooden boxes behind the Moses statue home. As key pollinators, bees are crucial to the environment. It’s up to Bertson and 37 other student beekeepers to keep them safe.

“Beekeeping helps contribute towards fighting declining bee populations, aiding in pollinating around the area,” Bernston said. “It provides an opportunity to educate people in the community on ecology by elucidating the role bees play in our ecosystem.” 

Beekeeping is one of Augustana’s newest sustainable efforts. Senior Rachel Johnson, president of Augie Green, inherited the program from Janae Becher, who initially oversaw its development before graduating in 2024.

Eco-friendly initiatives like this caught the eye of The Princeton review, which publishes a Guide to Green Colleges annually. 511 colleges were selected and reviewed this year for “exceptional programs, policies, and practices related to sustainability and the environment,” and Augustana University made the list.

Director of Sustainability David O’Hara credits this recognition to the new environmental studies major and student-led sustainability initiatives on campus, such as beekeeping, outdoor classrooms, and Augie Thrift. 

The university does not fund these programs. O’Hara secures grants from the federal government.

“Since I do this work as a volunteer – that is, to my regular teaching, service and research – and without any funding, it’s a slow process, but it’s worthwhile because it helps us to live our core values,” O’Hara said

Aside from beekeeping, Augie Green is currently working with the Office of Sustainability to introduce more plants around campus. 

“When you’re introducing projects, you want it to make it where the work is either done by students or doesn’t need to be done at all,” Johnson said. “You want to be as prepared as you can for the future.”

Spearheaded by seniors Libby Breckon and Grace Lenning, Augie Thrift is another student-led initiative on campus.

“The inspiration for Augie Thrift came from seeing the amount of perfectly good items getting thrown into the dumpster at the end of every semester,” Breckon said. “Grace and I had found working TVs, artwork and so much more and felt like we could help foster an environment where people could learn how to save and donate items rather than just throwing them away.”

The pair donates the profits from sale days — every Tuesday and Wednesday — to environmentally friendly nonprofits that align with their mission.

Beyond donating and thrifting, Augie Thrift also partners with organizations on campus to promote sustainability. Breckon and Lenning recently partnered with Augie Green and the Pre-Vet club to turn recycled clothing into dog toys for the Humane Society in Sioux Falls. 

“Starting up this project was a large undertaking, and to have students and staff utilize the resource we created is incredibly rewarding,” Breckon said. 

The more students that are engaged with the programs like Augie Thrift and Augie Green, the better, Johnson said.

For Johnson, the goal is to get students out of the classroom and into nature – if not on a hike, then in a hammock on the campus green. Augie Green has also led multiple first-year seminar events this year to interest underclassmen in joining. 

Two years ago in 2023, Augustana also made The Princeton Review’s list, and students helped secure a silver status in sustainability from Sioux Falls’ Building Sustainable Connections, which awards businesses for sustainable initiatives. 

“We’re trying to make campus a space where wildlife can thrive alongside students,” Johnson said.

Support from partners like International Business Machines and Xcel Energy helps move the program forward. O’Hara has also worked with the city of Sioux Falls as a member of the Climate Action and Sustainability committee. 

“Lots of people in the city know the importance of living sustainably and want our help,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara encouraged students and faculty to join the Upper Midwest Associaton for Campus Sustainability and attend their conferences. He also suggested that the Augustana Student Association join The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and leverage their resources for sustainability. These organizations “offer a lot of low-cost solutions that pay for themselves,” O’Hara said.

“Sustainability is about living responsibly,” O’Hara said. “It’s about being good neighbors–a central aim of our heritage as a college of the church.”