As a high school student in drought-stricken Reno, Nevada, Celeste Tinajero initiated significant environmental changes at Reed High School.

In 2011, she secured a $12,000 grant from GREENevada to replace leaky bathroom fixtures with water-saving technology. Following this success, she spearheaded efforts to install a hydration station, raising funds through reusable water bottle sales to cover asbestos removal.

Tinajero graduated in 2013, leaving a lasting impact. Today, she continues her advocacy by designing sustainable living curricula for local schools and researching for Reno's "Bag the Ban" campaign against plastic bags.

Jackson Koeppel built community resilience through solar-powered infrastructure.

Learn more about his work at Soulardarity.

Sean was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

He received this recognition for his impactful work in launching an educational campaign dedicated to raising awareness about marine debris.

Lynnea was honored with a Brower Youth Award.

This recognition highlights her significant work in fostering childhood curiosity, transforming it into a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship.

Tiffany was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award. This accolade recognizes her significant contributions to environmental engagement.

She earned the award for her innovative approach to involving young people in solutions-based, citizen-science projects, fostering a new generation of environmental problem-solvers.

Ryan Camero, from Stockton, CA, began volunteering with Restore the Delta in 2010 to understand community resilience amidst social challenges and water issues. His interest in art and storytelling led him to the Beehive Collective. Collaborating with Restore the Delta and Food and Water Watch, Camero conceptualized "Sucked Dry" in 2014, a presentation with Beehive Collective graphics that linked California's water privatization to struggles against large-scale infrastructure projects in Mesoamerica.

Last fall, Camero toured 18 California cities, presenting "Sucked Dry" and facilitating discussions on the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Now employed by Restore the Delta, he continues to act as a "cross-pollinator," fostering collaborations across organizations to address interconnected social, environmental, and economic inequities.

Noticing a gap between student environmental concern and action at Wesleyan, Kate Weiner founded LOAM in 2014. Inspired by an internship, her student-run environmental arts collective uses a literary magazine and gardening program to engage students in sustainability.

LOAM's free campus magazine features student environmental art and writing. Its "Wild Walls" program involves students building and maintaining low-cost wall gardens. The collective has successfully produced multiple issues and installations, receiving widespread positive feedback.

Post-graduation, Weiner continues LOAM's mission, fostering off-campus sustainability exploration. She and her peers also hosted a national youth essay contest and launched a new online platform.

JP Viñals joined Activists Coming To Inform Our Neighborhood (ACTION) in 2013 to address environmental and social issues in Hunts Point, South Bronx. The neighborhood, home to New York's largest food distribution center, endures 15,000 daily trucks, causing severe air pollution and some of the nation's highest asthma rates.

As ACTION's president, Viñals focused on transforming the defunct 1.25-mile Sheridan Expressway into a vibrant boulevard. This expressway restricts access to the Bronx River and green spaces, forcing heavy truck traffic onto local streets, harming residents and contributing to pollution. ACTION supports a broader campaign to replace it with housing, hospitals, and green areas, leading school presentations and community education efforts.

Troubled by the lack of youth voices in Virginia climate policy, Dyanna Jaye co-founded the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition (VSEC) after the 2013 Power Shift convergence. VSEC's mission is to cultivate and elevate student voices in state-level decision-making, addressing specific challenges like coastline erosion and mountaintop removal mining.

As VSEC's first chair, Jaye established its structure and partnerships. Early actions included critiquing the Governor’s Energy Plan and hosting the 2015 Student Power Lobby Day to advocate for the Virginia Coastal Protection Act. Now active on 11 Virginia college campuses, VSEC continues to ensure students are heard on environmental policy.

Tsechu won a Brower Youth Award.

This recognition was for creating a model for sustainable food security in Upper Mustang, Nepal.

Doorae received a Brower Youth Award.

This honor recognizes her instrumental work in Hawai'i, where she successfully led the initiative to ban Styrofoam use.

Doorae Shin fell in love with Hawai‘i's majestic landscapes as a freshman on O‘ahu, but was dismayed by Styrofoam litter and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems. In fall 2012, she partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to lead a student petition, gathering 1,000 signatures. This effort successfully prompted the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa to ban single-use foam packaging from all campus dining locations.

Following this campus victory, Shin spent two years advocating for a statewide Styrofoam ban. When that initiative failed, she joined efforts for a county-wide ban on O‘ahu. Shin will soon begin her role as the University of Hawai‘i system's first student sustainability coordinator.

Lynnea Shuck launched the Junior Refuge Ranger Program at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Inspired by her volunteer experience, she created the program to educate youth about the vital role wildlife refuges play in protecting threatened and endangered species.

Through labs, hikes, and birding expeditions, the program teaches children aged 8-11 about conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental awareness. Participants gain an appreciation for nature and their role in its protection. Shuck aims to expand this successful initiative to all 555 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, providing a "How-To Guide" for easy implementation.

This document presents the 2017 Brower Youth Awards Speech, a significant address delivered by Mercedes Thompson and Claire Wayner. The Brower Youth Awards annually recognize outstanding young environmental leaders, celebrating their innovative projects and dedication to a sustainable future.

Thompson and Wayner's speech likely articulated their vision, shared insights from their environmental work, and inspired attendees with their commitment to addressing pressing ecological challenges. Their participation underscores the vital role youth play in driving environmental change.

Dineen O'Rourke delivered a compelling speech at the 2017 Brower Youth Awards ceremony.

Her address highlighted her impactful work as a young environmental leader, inspiring attendees with her dedication to environmental activism and change.

The Brower Youth Awards annually recognize exceptional young people who are making significant contributions to the environmental movement.

Dejah Powell's 2017 Brower Youth Awards Speech.

This document presents the 2017 Brower Youth Awards Speech.

The speech was delivered by Charlie Jiang.

Dineen O'Rourke's 2017 Brower Youth Awards speech highlighted her community work.

She focused on local gardening initiatives and emphasized the importance of education.

Charlie Jiang delivered a compelling speech at the 2017 Brower Youth Awards. His address centered on the vital theme of "doing good for the world."

Jiang urged his audience to look beyond their personal "bubble" and hometown of Chicago. He emphasized the importance of engaging with the wider world to create positive change.

Mercedes Thompson and Claire Wayner were honored at the 2017 Brower Youth Awards for their dedicated environmental work in Baltimore. Beginning as young students, they focused on the critical issue of trash, advocating for the understanding that there is "no 'away'" for waste.

Their impactful efforts specifically targeted Styrofoam, a toxic pollutant. Through their initiatives, they successfully influenced their schools, the city, and the state, raising awareness and promoting solutions.