During the Spring 2025 semester, graduate student Gracie Krahn and her peers collaborated with leaders from the City of Waupaca to create an energy and transportation sustainability plan to complete the inaugural capstone project for the Nelson Institute’s new sustainability certificate.
Krahn, who plans to graduate in December with a master’s of science degree in life sciences communication and the certificate in sustainability, said the project “significantly enriched my experience in the Sustainability Capstone (ES 900) course” and “offered a valuable opportunity to apply course concepts to real-world challenges.”
“I firmly believe in the importance of learning beyond the classroom,” Krahn said. “This experience deepened my understanding of the complexities of sustainability, the inner workings of city government, and how to communicate sustainability goals in a way that is both approachable and impactful.”
The Nelson Institute launched the new 12-credit certificate in January 2024. Dean Paul Robbins said the goal of the certificate is to prepare graduates to be “more effective in addressing the challenges and crises of the future.”
Students earning the certificate must complete a community-based capstone project, such as the Waupaca sustainability plan. Instructor Kim Wahl said the students were “highly motivated.”
“Working on a real-life project made the learning more meaningful for us,” Wahl said. “Students were able to gain valuable professional experience to support their future work in a career connected to more sustainable practices.”
The City of Waupaca partnered with UniverCity Alliance to move forward on big ideas addressing environmental sustainability, community development, and internal organizational planning, that require additional time and technical capacity.
“Pairing Waupaca’s project with the inaugural graduate sustainability certificate was an exciting first for UniverCity Alliance,” UniverCity Alliance Managing Director Megan McBride said. “We’re looking forward to many more capstone projects sourced from our community partnerships across Wisconsin.”
The Waupaca Energy and Transportation Sustainability Plan that the students created is a strategic framework for incorporating sustainability into Waupaca’s future that aligns with the city’s 2030 goals. The plan offers recommendations to achieve long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits through the adoption of renewable energy and the promotions of sustainable transportation methods.
David Heinritz, who graduated in May 2025 with master’s of science degree in agricultural and applied economics, the certificate in sustainability, and the Energy Analysis and Policy Certificate, said the final project was useful because of the interactions the student had with the community partners.
“They were able to give us feedback and make requests about what would be useful. It was definitely a partnership,” Heinritz said. “I hope these partnerships are helpful for the cities to get value out of the university directly.”
Applications for the graduate sustainability certificate can be submitted at any time, but applicants are encouraged to apply before the end of their first year in graduate school to ensure timely completion of certificate requirements.
–Abigail Becker