President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) Winners

2024 Winners

Read the press release about this year's PEYA winners.

EPA Region 1

Project Name: The Barrington Environmental Establishment
By: Abigail Goblick, Siddharth Gupta, Mia He, and Emma Pautz
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Barrington, Rhode Island

The Barrington Environmental Establishment (BEE) is a student-led climate action organization founded by Emma, Abigail, Mia, and Siddharth. These high school students noticed that their coastal hometown of Barrington, Rhode Island, was impacted by the effects of climate change, such as increased flooding and extreme weather. They decided to take matters into their own hands to create the BEE and help their community become more environmentally conscious while fostering positive environmental change. The students publish a biweekly newsletter promoting environmental awareness and have organized several successful community projects. As an example, the BEE set up a public composting drop-off site for the residents of Barrington, at which nearly 1581 pounds of compost was collected within the first 21 weeks. Additionally, by collaborating with an organization called “Tree-Plenish,” the BEE sold 1033 tree saplings, offsetting 206 tons of carbon, in the past year. Community involvement is at the heart of the organization’s goals and activities, and the BEE invites community members to participate in monthly environmental events as well as regular volunteer cleanup activities. In their pursuit of a greener future, the BEE uses youth-led activism to drive community-based environmental action.

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EPA Region 2

Project Name: EnviroJustice Puerto Rico
By: Isabella Muradyan, Catherine Vasnetsov, and Victor Vasnetsov
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Dorado, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico faces increasing susceptibility to the threats of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastline pollution, and extreme weather events. To foster unity and drive environmental action, Catherine, Isabella, and Victor created EnviroJustice Puerto Rico, a bilingual social media app that shares positive stories and promotes environmental action within Hispanic communities. The three 11th graders have grown an online community with more than 28,000 followers on Facebook, and the project has received over $32,600 in grant awards. By leveraging social media platforms, the project has reached beyond their school in Dorado, Puerto Rico, to engage a broader audience in environmental stewardship. The students actively collaborate with the University of Puerto Rico, local government departments, private nonprofit organizations, and research organizations to extend the impact of their work. EnviroJustice Puerto Rico also mobilizes community members through monthly workshops at the Los Naranjos community center, social media engagement, beach cleanups, and coral restoration efforts. For example, during the Hawksbill sea turtle’s nesting season, EnviroJustice Puerto Rico used its platform to organize groups of volunteers to monitor five different beaches once a week to protect the endangered species. EnviroJustice Puerto Rico’s impressive student leadership and innovation helps to educate and engage the public in conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and beyond.

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EPA Region 2

Project Name: Soil2Salad Community Garden
By: Landon D’Agate
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Bay Shore, New York

Landon first learned about the importance of food security while volunteering at a local food pantry. The junior was struck by the lack of access to nutritious food and was motivated to act. Landon subsequently founded Soil2Salad, a food security initiative that uses a community garden to empower an under-resourced community and provide nutritious and sustainable food to those who need it. After being awarded more than $6,000 in grants, Landon recruited volunteers in the community to build several raised garden beds before filling them with 3,716 pounds of soil and plants. The volunteers seeded various foods, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and carrots, to produce over 1,100 pounds of fresh produce for donation to a local food pantry. The garden also serves as a space for outdoor education, where community members collaborate to learn about gardening and food sustainability. By creating the multipurpose community garden, Landon successfully enacted positive environmental change and helped foster a sense of security and hope in his community. His journey from volunteer to community leader exemplifies the transformative power of grassroots action in addressing food insecurity and promoting environmental justice.

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EPA Region 3

Project Name: Nurture Natives
By: Esther Bonney and Samantha Rutherford
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
La Plata, Maryland

Esther and Samantha’s interest in agriculture and sustainable farming motivated them to learn more about agricultural practices in their town of La Plata, Maryland. After engaging with local farms and experts from the University of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the two high school students identified invasive species as a major threat to local crops and native habitats in their community. Esther and Samantha’s project started as a local 4-H club that soon transformed into Nurture Natives, a platform to empower youth through environmental initiatives that enhance native biodiversity and educate the public about invasive species. Since its founding, Nurture Natives, now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has distributed 35,400 native seedlings, 550 native tree shrubs, and 150 self-designed and self-published guides to nurseries across seven states. Their work has resulted in 13 acres of distributed foliage, which has the capacity to annually absorb more than 26,400 pounds of carbon dioxide. Samantha and Esther also use social media to successfully amplify their program online by sharing insights on native plants and guidance for youth engagement in environmental advocacy. To date, they have accumulated more than 17,000 views. The innovative efforts of Nurture Natives have a wide-reaching impact on agricultural sustainability that demonstrates youth-driven environmental leadership.

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EPA Region 4

Project Name: One Million Mangroves
By: William Alexander Charouhis
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Miami, Florida

When Hurricane Irma flooded his hometown of Miami, Florida, William experienced firsthand the devastating impact that climate change can have on a community. Coastal communities are particularly susceptible to the impact of extreme weather events, which cause property damage, displace millions of people, and threaten ecosystems. In response, William implemented One Million Mangroves, an initiative to tackle climate change by conserving and restoring mangrove trees, which play a vital role in defense and carbon sequestration for coastal areas. So far, his initiative has resulted in the planting of more than 2,289 mangroves across 6 miles of the Florida coastline. One Million Mangroves has also organized community cleanups with over 120 volunteers to remove litter from mangrove root systems, which gives the plants a better chance to thrive. William shared his efforts, as well as the importance of mangrove protection, with hundreds of other students and business and government leaders by speaking at the 2023 Miami Youth Climate Summit. His initiative highlights the effectiveness of youth-driven and nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, which can be leveraged to provide protection for vulnerable communities.

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EPA Region 4

Project Name: The Giving Garden
By: Angela Li, Joshua Li, and Yikuan Sun
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Giving Garden began as a backyard hobby during the 2020 pandemic, when Angela, Yikuan, and Joshua cultivated a 500-square-foot backyard patch with tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, and cabbage. What began as a fun way to pass the time soon transformed into the large-scale community gardening project they have today. The three of them noticed that at-home gardening has several benefits, including addressing food insecurity, reducing food waste, and promoting environmental sustainability. By partnering with farmers and community volunteers, the students decided to expand their backyard gardening plot into a 1,420-square-foot garden range supported by a community movement that engaged nearly 100 families. The Giving Garden now organizes community service events, having generated 1,000 pounds in food donations to date. The project also promotes environmental education to further involve community members in gardening, and it has successfully distributed over 2,000 seedlings at community events across Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Giving Garden’s goal is to “grow, feed, compost, repeat,” and the organization actively promotes environmental stewardship by responding to local food needs and fostering a sustainable cycle of food production and consumption within the community.

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EPA Region 5

Project Name: Stewards Sustainable Leadership Institute 4-H Club
By: Vishal Swamy
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Novi, Michigan

Vishal, a high school student from Novi, Michigan, founded the Stewards Sustainability Leadership Institute 4-H Club (SSLI). This youth program, headquartered at Michigan State University’s Tollgate Farm, is dedicated to educating and involving students in their community. Its primary objective is confronting a lack of confidence and direction among youth against challenges as large as climate change. As a remedy, the program connects students to experts in the field to facilitate their projects. To date, the program has executed several projects by securing over 30 community partnerships and $16,000 in funding. In 2023, over 15 projects were undertaken through SSLI, encompassing a diverse array of missions, including an education program for composting that successfully reached over 100 community members. Vishal also spearheaded the establishment of a community pollinator garden at Tollgate Farm, planting over 250 flowers and shrubs. SSLI is also collaborating with a local high school to implement strategies for reducing food waste in school cafeterias. These endeavors represent just a glimpse of Vishal’s multifaceted approach to environmental activism. Through SSLI, Vishal hopes to inspire the younger generation to take actions for a sustainable future.

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EPA Region 6

Project Name: Litter Scout
By: Daniel Thomas
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Euless, Texas

Concerned about rising pollution in his community, Daniel decided to take tangible actions to combat pollution and promote environmental sustainability. The sophomore-initiated Litter Scout, a project aimed at addressing prevalent issues in the waterways of three Texas cities: Euless, Colleyville, and Grapevine. By coordinating monthly litter cleanups, Daniel is actively promoting environmental sustainability for these waterways, which flow into the Trinity River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Trinity River ranks as the third most polluted river in Texas, holding 912,685 pounds of litter and 657 pounds of toxic discharge. Litter Scout drives down these numbers, having removed 16,703 pounds of trash directly from the river and its banks while salvaging 4,093 pounds of recyclables from landfills. With a collective 1,737 hours of service from over 450 volunteers, Daniel’s project encourages change and inspires the community. Daniel also posts YouTube videos, podcasts, and blogs to help young people learn how to actively engage in conservation efforts and promote stewardship within their communities. He even authored a children’s book, Sustainable Living: Easy Environmental Tips for Kids, to share sustainability practices and educate readers about important environmental issues. Daniel's efforts have brought together many community members, actively fostering education and advocacy for conservation and environmental stewardship.

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EPA Region 7

Project Name: Pura Aerem
By: Shanza Sami
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Iowa City, Iowa

Shanza, a sophomore concerned about the millions of people affected by ambient air pollution, decided to find a plausible solution to reduce emissions from gas-powered vehicles. The result was Pura Aerem, a novel catalytic converter extension that uses a multistage approach to combat and reduce vehicle emissions. Pura Aerem significantly reduces particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide levels. It has earned recognition from environmental scientists and engineers across the country. Shanza now hopes to commercialize Pura Aerem to encourage its widespread use, as the extension has the potential to make substantial improvements to the environment. She also continues to promote environmental involvement through her organization, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for Youth, which aims to bring equitable and interactive science demonstrations to the broader community of students. With more than 90 high school students participating, STEM for Youth has successfully educated over 50 elementary students, and the organization only continues to grow. Shanza’s research and activism aims to improve the lives of those impacted by air pollution and mitigate toxic air pollution, thereby promoting a healthier and sustainable environment.

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EPA Region 8

Project Name: Do Something Sweet for the Environment
By: Sadie Gudmestad
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Fort Collins and Loveland, Colorado

When Sadie, a junior, first learned that habitat loss and climate change threatened bee populations across the United States, she decided to take action. She recognized that bees are vital to the biodiversity of ecosystems as well as watershed health in her local community. To protect them from extinction, Sadie built bee hotels for distribution in northern Colorado through her project: Do Something Sweet for the Environment. Sadie focused her efforts on helping solitary bees, which build homes underground or in logs rather than traditional beehives. She used reclaimed wood and began constructing the bee hotels by drilling holes into the wood to create essential habitats and nesting locations for solitary bees. In partnership with the People and Pollinators Action Network, she also educated others about bee health and distributed over 75 of these bee hotels to at least a dozen towns in Colorado. Her project has gained widespread recognition and was even selected as a finalist out of 300 applicants in the Caring for our Watershed (CFW) contest. Sadie plans to continue supporting bee populations by distributing pollinator packets and continuing to educate the public on this pressing environmental issue.

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EPA Region 9

Project Name: Go Greenish
By: Hayden Crocker, Savannah Levack, and Trisha Vasanadu
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Solana Beach, California

Inspired by the idea that students can lead climate action in schools, three high school students—Hayden, Trisha, and Savannah—founded Go Greenish, a youth-led environmental organization. Their mission is to advocate for climate action in their school and community by engaging in climate conversations and organizing numerous projects, activities, and research initiatives. Go Greenish specifically offers opportunities for students to participate in discussions about policymaking. In their school district in Solano Beach, for example, students spoke with school officials to discuss the environmental need for sustainable transportation, improved food management practices, and enhanced waste management and recycling efforts. This work has spurred notable change, as the school district has responded by applying for grants to fund new electric buses, implementing recycling bins in classrooms, and establishing a partnership to donate excess cafeteria food to homeless shelters in San Diego. Notably, Go Greenish also financed and organized the creation of a community garden, thereby igniting even more community engagement. With over 150 volunteers and $8,700 raised, Go Greenish continues to expand its reach. Moving forward, the organization is committed to nurturing and empowering the next generation of climate activists.

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EPA Region 9

Project Name: Lead It Go
By: Paloma Holanda Alpern, Ivan Kuipers, Sophia Kuipers, and Oscar Jim Smith
Award Category: Grade Level K-5
Ventura, California

Paloma, Ivan, Sophia, and Oscar, 4th graders at Mound Elementary School in Santa Paula, California, took action after learning about the ecological dangers posed by lead pollution from aircraft emissions in their community. Small aircrafts, using leaded fuel, emit a pound of lead every 22 hours of flight time.

The students conducted research on the threat of lead exposure, and then decided to educate their peers, teachers, and school administrators about ways to mitigate the environmental hazard. They emphasized the importance of safety around heavy metals and educated their community on the best practices for minimizing exposure. Eventually, the fourth graders decided to create the EnviroMound Club, an after-school group dedicated to environmental advocacy. Regular meetings were scheduled to plan and execute a successful awareness campaign, which included creating posters and planning outreach initiatives. One of the club goals is to further mitigate lead exposure by establishing a battery recycling station at their school.  The students secured locations, decorated, and installed battery collection bins on the elementary school’s campus to promote hazardous waste recycling. In the future, they hope to expand their outreach to the surrounding community, specifically those in elevated lead-pollution areas. As they have inspired environmental stewardship in their school community, Paloma, Ivan, Sophia, and Oscar’s dedication to raising awareness about lead pollution demonstrates the power of youth activism in creating positive environmental change.

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EPA Region 10

Project Name: Bucket Trees for Campfire Safety
By: Caitlyn Eskelin, Emma Hindman, Kadie Newkirk, and Lyberty Stockman
Award Category: Grade Level 6–12
Soldotna, Alaska

Four high school students—Caitlyn, Emma, Kadie, and Lyberty—understand the detrimental impacts of wildfires, specifically those in their Alaskan community in the Kenai Peninsula. After witnessing the impact of the 2019 Swan Lake wildfires, which burned over 170,000 acres of land, they decided to take action to help protect and educate their community. The students researched innovative ways to reduce the risk of human-made wildfires, as nearly 85 percent of fires in the United States are caused by humans. For campgrounds, they advocated for new safety standards to stifle campfires, which include dowsing fires with water, stirring, and ensuring that coals are cold. Since 2022, the group has also installed 18 “bucket trees” on campgrounds in the Kenai Peninsula. These stands have several empty loaner buckets for use by visitors and campers. The buckets, labeled with fire safety instructions, are distributed by host agencies who continue to advocate for their use, thereby promoting sustainable fire safety practices and mitigating the risk of human-caused wildfires. The project was praised by Alaska State Park Rangers, firefighters, and the broader community alike, all of whom commended Caitlyn, Emma, Kadie, and Lyberty for their service and environmental stewardship. In the future, the students hope to expand their efforts to a statewide initiative to protect all of Alaska’s natural landscapes.