2024 Maldonado Environmental Hero Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Maldonado Environmental Hero Award.

Colin A. Maldonado was a 2013 graduate of Georgia College & State University, with a major in environmental science and a minor in geology. He was president of the Environmental Science Club, a leader for the GC Wellness & Recreation Center climbing wall and a member of the Bike Polo team. Colin was an activist and a visualist; he employed his heart and his education to manifest a better world for all of us.  During his senior year, Colin developed the GC Bike Plan, including designs for bike paths and a bike share program. Colin passed away from a tragic infection while living and learning about sustainability in action at a spiritual center in Costa Rica in 2014.

“The world is changing quickly, and the poison spreading ever faster. We must continue to push the consciousness of a sustainable and spirit-centered lifestyle.”

The Environmental Science Club and the GC Sustainability Council created the Maldonado Environmental Hero Award in 2014 to honor Colin’s determination, faith, optimism and kindness. The award is given annually to recognize a Georgia College student who best exemplifies Colin’s belief that individuals can make a difference to help us all attain a sustainable future.

Please email MaldonadoAward@gmail.com to nominate the student or recent graduate you would like to be considered. Please include a brief statement of how your nominee exemplifies sustainability action and advocacy. Nominations are due by midnight Sunday, April 21.