A list of funding opportunities available to students can be found below.
Please direct all questions to sustainability@mtu.edu.
Next Gen Climate Leaders Fund
Are you passionate about tackling climate change and ready to develop the skills to make a real difference? The NextGen Climate Leaders Fund offers Michigan Tech students a unique opportunity to invest in their future as climate changemakers.
What is the NextGen Climate Leaders Fund?
Thanks to a generous alumni donation, this fund supports current full-time Michigan
Tech students at any academic level who want to build networks, develop competencies,
and strengthen their leadership capacity around climate change solutions.
Funding Details
- Award Amount: Up to $1,000 per student
- Application Timeline: Rolling basis throughout 2026
- Quick Review Process: All applications reviewed within 10 business days
What Can Be Funded?
The fund offers flexibility in how you use the money, but you must demonstrate how
your proposed activity will:
- Develop your leadership skills
- Build your capacity to create positive climate impact
Examples of Fundable Activities:
- Conference attendance (including spring 2026 conferences if applying this fall)
- Professional certifications in sustainability, renewable energy, or related fields
- Networking events and workshops
- Skills training programs
- Leadership development opportunities
Note: Graduate students seeking funding directly related to their research and presenting their research at conferences should first explore funding through their academic departments.
Ready to Apply?
To apply, fill out this form.
Please reach out to Alan Turnquist, Director of Sustainability and Resilience, if you have any questions: sustainability@mtu.edu.
Chernosky Climate Ambassador Award
Are you an undergraduate student at Michigan Tech with a passion for sustainability and climate action? We invite you to apply for the fifth annual Frank Chernosky Campus Climate Ambassador Award.
This alumni-funded award is named after Frank Chernosky, a former professor and advisor at Michigan Tech. Mr. Chernosky was an early advocate for sustainability principles who impacted many students before dying tragically from a rare form of Heart Cancer in 1971. The award consists of three forms of student support: a partial tuition scholarship, funds for professional development and/or applied work, and a formal mentorship by campus and/or external professionals. One recipient will be chosen annually.
The award for 2026-27 will be $9,600 – a scholarship amount of $8,000 spread over fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters, and a professional development and applied work fund of up to $1,600 to be used by August 2027. Awardees will also receive active mentorship from campus and/or external professionals to help them develop networks and skills for their future work. The overall timetable for the award is flexible to accommodate opportunities such as a co-op or internship. Applicants and award recipients will solidify the details on the timing of the award, as well as the nature of mentorship and professional development, through the application process and dialogue with the committee.
To be considered, an applicant must be a full-time undergraduate student at Michigan Tech with the equivalent of at least three semesters of full-time enrollment at Michigan Tech by the fall of 2026. They must also have a minimum of two semesters of coursework remaining, though there is potential for flexibility to accommodate an internship or coop into the award timeframe.
The committee will make a decision by mid April. Interested students should draft their application early and are encouraged to discuss their ideas with Alan Turnquist, Director of Sustainability and Resilience, before applying (alturnqu@mtu.edu).