November 2013: Contests & Funding

The UCSC Carbon Fund Wants You!: Applications due November 15
The Carbon Fund is accepting applications for project funding! The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! This year they have over $200,000 to allocate in funding due to rollover from previous years! If you have any project ideas that reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project! For more information, email the Carbon Fund at carbonfund.ucsc@gmail.com and check out their website. Abstracts are due November 15th.

Impact Award: Beyond the Personal Challenge
Reducing waste for the Chancellor's Sustainability Challenge requires building awareness and educating yourself and others. The Chancellor is sponsoring an Impact Award, which includes a cash prize of up to $300 and recognition by the Chancellor for implementing a project or experience that raise awareness about the need to reduce waste at UCSC. More information, ideas and award details are available here.

Net Impact's "Small Steps, Big Wins" Campus Challenge: Ends December 1
Small Steps, Big Wins is a university-focused national student competition to spark undergraduates into doing positive social and environmental actions such as donating blood, recycling or organizing a volunteer day. Join your school and participate in the challenge here. The competition closes on December 1.

Agricultural Innovation Prize 
Interested in participating in the largest agriculture-focused student competition in the world? Share your agricultural challenges and compete for a chance to win the Agricultural Innovational Prize and up to $100,000. The competition is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students across all academic disciplines and runs through spring 2014. The contest encourages student teams to develop innovative plans to address social and agricultural challenges within food systems, improving the standard of living and quality of life for the world's population. Additional information about how to participate is available on the website.

Challenge Your Perspectives – The Swedish Scholarship Awards 2014
Two winners will be awarded with full tuition waivers for Master’s of Science programs at two prestigious Swedish universities: Stockholm University and Lund University. If you are interested, enter the challenge here and begin to fill out the application for a chance to win a full tuition fee waiver for either of the Swedish schools.

Zipcar Seeks "Students With Drive"
The "Students with Drive" program is giving student groups an extra hand to help get things done with the help of Zipcars. The program, which gives away over $35,000 in driving credit a month, allows all student groups to nominate themselves to win free driving credit for their group to use for their groups' needs. In 2013, Alpha Phi Omega won $5,000 in driving credit to help students get to their community service events and in 2013, the Sabrosura Dance Troupe won $1,000 to take their dance shows into the community. Learn more about how your group can get involved on the contest website.