2026 Student Sustainability Leadership Award Winners Announced
Every year, BU Sustainability recognizes the students who don’t just talk about a more just and sustainable future — they build it. The Student Sustainability Leadership Award highlights graduating seniors who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to sustainability at Boston University — through service, leadership, and building awareness across their communities. This year, we are proud to celebrate two students whose work has made a lasting mark at BU.
Jerry Zhou (CAS ‘26):
Devote
d to connecting students, city officials, and community advocates, Jerry has worked diligently to advance the university’s sustainable transportation goals by advancing mobility and climate justice.
As the founder and leader of Boston University’s Urbanism Club, he has given students an authentic voice in urban planning by collaborating with the Boston Planning Department and TransitMatters. Like modes of transportation, Jerry acts as a bridge between communities, fostering lasting change by always taking initiative. From obtaining over 160 signatures for protected bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue to lobbying on Capitol Hill at the National Bike Summit, he remains devoted to upholding a strong community united around a shared goal.
He is a visionary leader who has remained motivated to cultivate the next generation of Urbanists. He leads with empathy and empowerment, establishing himself as a dependable figure his peers can rely on—qualities that are reflected as one of the first employees at the BU Cycle Kitchen (BUCK). He has helped students with bicycle repairs and organized community-building events, making the switch to low-carbon modes of transportation more accessible and less intimidating.
Building a movement from the ground up requires the ability to see the bigger picture and have the grit to bring it to life. He exemplifies what it means to work towards a larger mission both deliberately and purposefully—starting with small but meaningful steps like being an active member of the Environmental Student Organization, and extending far beyond the university by engaging Boston City Councilors at community meetings.
Devin Rauscher (CAS ‘26):
For the last 4 years, Devin has been a leader in sustainability work at BU. They took on the challenging work of tracking energy usage, Zero Waste, and other sustainability metrics, significantly advancing the University’s understanding of our campus footprint. They streamlined and improved data collection and waste management operations to bring BU closer towards the targets set in the Zero Waste Plan.
A notable contribution came through their role as the primary contact for the University’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report—a rigorous, institution-wide evaluation that, under their stewardship, saw a remarkable 22.7% increase in score and earned BU a Gold rating for the first time in University’s history.
Devin was not just behind-the-scenes at BU Sustainability; they acted as a connector. Whether presenting findings to administrators or relaying key information across departments, they served as a trusted bridge between the data and its meaning. Alongside their sustainability work, Devin also contributed to campus life as a User Services lead and desk staff member at Mugar Library—demonstrating a consistent commitment to community that extended well beyond any single role.
As a resident of the Harriet E. Richards (HER) Cooperative House, they brought these values home. They spearheaded an initiative to introduce a house-wide composting and waste management system, creating infrastructure and culture that made sustainable actions more accessible for their fellow residents. In the 2025–2026 school year, they served as Acting President of HER House, leading the community with the same thoughtfulness and initiative they brought to every corner of campus.
With a thoughtful, interdisciplinary perspective that combines passion with action, Devin brings exactly the kind of layered thinking our campus community needs.
Congratulations to Jerry and Devin—a recognition well deserved through their dedication and distinctive contributions to our campus community.