To encourage Midwest students to become familiar with the LEED rating system, the USGBC opened its 4th Annual Student Design Competition for the 2023-2024 school year. Students had to be enrolled in an architecture or urban planning college or university during the academic school year. The winning projects were announced on August 14, 2024. The competition focused on three project types incorporating either the LEED v4.1 rating system for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) or the LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) rating system as the design criteria. The winning entries demonstrated particular emphasis on understanding LEED criteria. First place went to Lisa Sun at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, followed by Meredy Thomas at Lawrence Technological University, Natalie DenBesten at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, and Elisabet Mai Jatmiko at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.