UC Irvine has long been celebrated as one of the country’s most eco-friendly and sustainable campuses. Not only did UC Irvine top the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools” ranking for 12 consecutive years, but the campus also received a platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System from 2021 to 2024.
UC Irvine’s commitment to green practices is reflected in the core values of programs across campus. In particular, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center has instituted several initiatives to educate student entrepreneurs about sustainable business practices and to encourage them to build their startups and side hustles with the planet in mind. In addition to hosting sustainability workshops and personalized consultations with sustainability experts, the Center provides access to tools like 3D printers and laser cutters that support sustainable design and innovation in its Maker Space. They bring in mentors who can help connect student entrepreneurs with green industry partners and even maintain a Center-wide composting project. These efforts have earned the ANTrepreneur Center a bronze rating through the UC Irvine Sustainability Resource Center’s Green Office Program.
The ANTrepreneur Center’s focus on sustainability also extends to its strategic partnerships. In early 2025, the Center partnered with the student organization Sustainable and Just Future at UCI (SJF at UCI) to launch the SJF Repair Center.
The SJF at UCI team celebrates the launch of the SJF Repair Center.
Supported by a grant from the UC Irvine Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation and located within the ANTrepreneur Center, the SJF Repair Center offers a physical space, tools, and education to encourage students to fix and upcycle their clothing and other items. By supporting SJF at UCI’s vision of reducing textile waste and turning the campus into a circular economy, the SJF Repair Center serves as a powerful example of how the ANTrepreneur Center unites sustainability with passion and innovation.
“We’re passionate about sustainability because we want our ANTrepreneurs to think critically about how their businesses impact the planet,” explained ANTrepreneur Center Director Ryan Foland. “Sustainability shouldn’t be an afterthought, and we want to give our students everything they need to build eco-friendly ventures and support a new generation of green business leaders.”
Brennan Kraus, former Vice President of SJF at UCI, poses with William Go, Irvine City Council Member, at the 2025 OCPA Community Impact Awards.
2025 OCPA Community Impact Awards
In October 2025, the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) honored the ANTrepreneur Center with their Community Impact Award for Nonprofit Leadership to recognize the SJF Repair Center and its support of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship.
“OCPA aims to recognize community members who are aligned with our mission and are championing the clean energy transition through their actions,” said Jacquie Henderson, OCPA Director of Communications and External Affairs. “OCPA launched the Community Impact Awards program to recognize and celebrate individuals, organizations, and businesses that demonstrate exceptional commitment to sustainability, community development, and local economic growth.”
On October 2, 2025, recent UC Irvine graduate and former Vice President of SJF at UCI Brennan Kraus (Class of 2025, B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Global Sustainability and Specialization in Geographic Information Systems), attended the Community Impact Awards ceremony to represent the ANTrepreneur Center and SJF Repair Center. “OCPA’s Community Impact Awards were a wonderful opportunity to see Orange County come together to celebrate initiatives driving meaningful change,” she explained. “The event brought together community stakeholders, ranging from city council representatives to nonprofit leaders and local businesses, all united by a shared commitment to improving our region. It was inspiring to hear the stories of organizations and individuals working to shape a more sustainable and equitable future for Orange County. Each award presentation highlighted the creativity, resilience, and dedication behind these efforts, creating a true sense of collective momentum.”
Irvine City Council Member and UC Irvine alum William Go presented the ANTrepreneur Center’s award, saying, “[The ANTrepreneur Center] is the University’s hub for entrepreneurial education, equipping undergraduates with the skills, mindset, and resources needed to launch startups, grow professionally, and lead with purpose. Through hands-on programs, personalized mentorship, and cutting-edge resources, the Center helps students turn sustainable ideas into real-world impact.”
For Kraus, the OCPA award recognizes the hard work that went into establishing the Repair Center and also celebrates the legacy she and the founding SJF at UCI members leave on campus:
“When we created the Repair Center, our goal was to make a tangible difference in the UC Irvine community by addressing a gap in how our generation thinks about consumption and waste. We wanted to show that extending the life of our belongings is not only practical but essential in fostering a circular economy, even on a small scale. Receiving this award is deeply meaningful to me and to SJF at UCI because it affirms that our work has had a lasting impact. It’s a reminder that we’ve left UC Irvine with a resource that will continue to spark positive change for years to come, through education, hands-on skills, and a renewed appreciation for the value of what we already have. Our mission at SJF has always been to translate knowledge into action, and this award is a powerful testament to what students can achieve when we come together with purpose.”
Building A Greener Future for All
As the ANTrepreneur Center looks towards the future, Foland is excited to continue efforts that emphasize the importance of sustainability. “We’re always looking for ways to highlight sustainable business practices and educate students on environmental stewardship,” he says. “This is part of our mission to nurture responsible entrepreneurship and make a lasting difference in the world.”
The ANTrepreneur Center’s commitment to sustainability will continue throughout the 2025-26 academic year. In addition to maintaining existing sustainability resources like the SJF Repair Center and Maker Room, the Center will support several sustainability events and initiatives. On October 25, 2025, the Center is supporting a gala in partnership with the United Nations Association of Orange County to observe United Nations (UN) Day. This event will celebrate 80 years of the UN advocating for global humanitarian and social concerns, including protecting the planet and conserving natural resources.
The Center is also collaborating with a new UC Irvine club to establish Orange County’s first Repair Café. The club will establish its cafe at the ANTrepreneur Center and support the global movement of offering free meeting places that encourage the repair and reuse of anything from clothing, electronics, appliances, and more.
Finally, the ANTrepreneur Center is working with the UC Irvine Sustainability Resource Center to host two Sustainability Fellows through the Campus as a Living Lab program. These Fellows will pursue independent sustainability projects at the Center while also serving as consultants for students looking to establish environmentally friendly practices in their businesses.
Learn more about sustainability at the ANTrepreneur Center.
Visit the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.