The University of Maryland was named a winner of the "America's Greenest Campus" contest for its efforts to raise awareness about energy use and reduce its carbon footprint.

There were 450 universities in the competition and Maryland had the highest number of students, faculty and staff participating -- 2,257 signed up on contest sponsor Climate Culture's Web site. The site offers a tool to calculate your carbon footprint.

The university reports that Rio Salado College in Tempe, Ariz., had the highest carbon reduction, or 4.4 percent among 524 participants, based on contest results released this week.

Both schools won $5,000.

The university says the award comes on the heels of its carbon action plan to reach carbon neutrality on campus by 2050.

"Winning this contest reinforces the level of activism and interest that our students have in environmental issues," said Mark Stewart, Maryland's campus sustainability coordinator, in a statement. "Through the Student Government Association, through this contest, through constant petitioning outside the [Stamp Student] Union, there's just wonderful activism, and I'm inspired daily by the passion of our students.

Go Terps!