CESR Impact Awards

These student-driven awards recognize members of the Leeds community who inspire students to pursue sustainability and social impact.
Graduating Student Award Criteria
- Has demonstrated a commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact through their career.
- Has been a leader, whether formally or informally, in encouraging other students to pursue sustainability.
- Meaningful engagement with CESR during their time at Leeds.
- Graduating in spring, summer or fall 2025
Rising Star Student Award Criteria
- Has demonstrated a commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact through their career.
- Has been a leader, whether formally or informally, in encouraging other students to pursue sustainability.
- Meaningful engagement with CESR during their time at Leeds.
- Shows great potential to continue inspiring others and encouraging more Leeds students to learn about sustainability.
Faculty Award Criteria
- Incorporates sustainability and social impact into their teaching, helping students understand how these topics intersect with business.
- Inspires students to pursue a career with positive social and environmental impact.
Nominees must be either degree-seeking Leeds students or full-time Leeds faculty members from any division. Faculty members may not win the award two years in a row, and previous "rising star" award winners are not eligible to win again.
The winners of the 2025 award are:
- Faculty: Erik Estrada, Undergraduate,David Drake, Graduate
- Graduating Student: Renner Skidmore (MGMT, SRE'25), Undergraduate, Eric Coler (MBA'25),Graduate
- "RisingStar" Student: Carly Simmons (MGMT, SRE'27), Undergraduate, Annika Cederstrand (ѵ/ѷ’26),Graduate
Read more about the 2025 winners here.

"Winning the CESR Impact Award is such an honor, and honestly, it feels incredible to see my efforts recognized. I'm really passionate about finding creative business solutions to global challenges like sustainability and renewable energy, and receiving this award is a wonderful validation of that passion."
– Eric Coler (MBA, '25)
The winners of the 2024 award are:
- Faculty: Joshua Nunziato, Undergraduate,Dejun “Tony” Kong, Graduate
- Graduating Student: Gabriel Cervantes, Undergraduate,Steven Winterbach,Undergraduate,Mary Boling,Graduate
- "RisingStar" Student: Natalie Bovie, Undergraduate, Emma Ritson,Graduate
Read more about the 2024 winners here.

“Receiving the CESR Impact Award is a tremendous honor for me, symbolizing the culmination of two years’ worth of dedicated effort in helping to enhance CESR and its associated initiatives. Throughout my journey, I've been privileged to collaborate closely with CESR's exceptional staff and fellow students, absorbing invaluable lessons along the way.”
– Emma Ritson (MBA, '25)
The winners of the 2023 award are:
Faculty: Lorna Christoff,Undergraduate, George Deriso,Graduate
Graduating Student: Shiao June Yuan,Undergraduate, Anna Reves,Graduate
The winners of the 2022 award are:
Faculty: Stacey Edgar,Undergraduate, Heather Kennedy,Graduate
Graduating Student: Caitlin O’Neill,Undergraduate, Cate Griffin,Graduate
Connect with CESR
Ecesr@colorado.edu
P (+1)3034923324
Leeds School of Business
995 Regent Drive
KOBL 302
Boulder, CO 80309