On Earth Day and Every Day The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Celebrates Youth who are Protecting the Planet
The Barron Prize celebrates these recent winners who are deeply committed to protecting the planet:
Artash Nath created MonitorMyOcean.com to investigate how human activities affect underwater ocean noise and marine mammals, particularly whales. His system uses data from hydrophones (underwater microphones) to estimate human-caused ocean noise, which disrupts whales’ communication and navigation. He aims to aid whale conservation, such as the design of policies to reduce collisions between whales and the world’s 80,000 commercial ships.
Arya Gurumukhi invented a novel catalyst to improve upon the Bionic Leaf technology, a solar-powered device that mimics photosynthesis to create a highly efficient, alcohol-based fuel from just water, sunlight, and bacteria. She envisions her clean, sustainable energy source as a way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and reduce energy insecurity.
Cash Daniels protects freshwater ecosystems and has removed more than 35,000 pounds of trash from the Tennessee River, the world’s most microplastics-polluted river. He has partnered with Tennessee State Parks to place more than 150 fishing line collection bins across the state, protecting waterways and the animals who easily become entangled in the line. Cash funds his collection bins with money earned by recycling aluminum cans – more than three tons of them to date.
Elizabeth Djajalie works passionately to protect Alaska’s ecosystems and way of life by conducting research to help conserve Pacific salmon. She also leads the student arm of the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF), a statewide nonprofit that supports STEM education for Alaska youth.
Esther Bonney founded Nurture Natives to protect native plant species. Her nonprofit educates adults and children about the increasing problems non-natives pose to agriculture, pollinators, and homeowners. Her youth-led group hosts plant giveaways across Maryland and has distributed more than 47,000 native seedlings. The group has also planted 2.2 million seeds and donated $24,000 worth of native plants to underprivileged communities.
Genshu Price created Bottles4College to recycle cans and bottles, using the proceeds to help students in Hawaii attend college. Over the past three years, his nonprofit has recycled more than 1.5 million cans and bottles, diverting 100,000 pounds of trash from landfills. In 2023, Genshu awarded Hawaii high school seniors his first round of scholarships – nearly $22,000, raised five cents at a time.
Nirbhuy Arun & Alexis Nicholson co-founded Kids for Urban Trees and have planted more than 300 trees at schools, parks, and low-income housing complexes in their community. The two friends started their club to address the urban heat effect and to develop young environmental stewards.
Varin Sikka invented AirCat, a Direct Air Capture system that removes carbon dioxide from the air on a large scale and holds the potential to significantly mitigate climate change. Varin’s system makes use of the world’s 300,000 wind turbines that provide renewable energy.
For more info visit www.barronprize.org.
About the Barron Prize
Established in 2001 by author T. A. Barron, the Barron Prize is a national award that annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Fifteen top winners each receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. These young people are as diverse as their service projects. They are female and male, urban and rural, and from a wide variety of backgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. All of them demonstrate heroic character qualities like courage, compassion, and perseverance. Through the years, the Barron Prize has earned the support of Girl Scouts of the USA, The Wilderness Society, Youth Service America, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, among other organizations.
To learn more about the Barron Prize, visit www.barronprize.org
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