Celebrating the Changemakers: EarthEcho Youth Leaders Shine with Awards and Accolades
At EarthEcho International, we believe that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the trailblazers of today. We're proud to spotlight a wave of recent awards and recognitions earned by our extraordinary youth ambassadors. From international honors to local impact awards, these changemakers are turning ideas into action and inspiring a more sustainable future.
Aana Shenai (2024 Marine Plastics Ambassador; 2025 Lead Marine Plastics Ambassador)
2025 Wayfinder Society Student Mini-Grant Recipient
This grant will further support Aana’s work to tackle marine debris and inspire local action.
Amber Josfin Pineda (2024 Blue Carbon Ambassador)
Ocean Exploration Trust Science & Engineering Internship – ROV Engineering Intern (June 2025)
Amber was selected to sail aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus for Expedition Metaw: Exploring Mud Volcanoes and the Mariana Trench—bringing youth perspective to deep-sea discovery.
Arianna Beeray (2024 High Seas Ambassador)
2025 ECOSOC Forum Speaker – United Nations
Arianna spoke on SDG 14 at the UN ECOSOC Forum, urging nations to ratify the High Seas Treaty and uphold international commitments to ocean protection. Her leadership continues to spotlight Caribbean youth in global marine policy discussions.
Camila Rimoldi Ibañez (Youth Leadership Council)
REEF Marine Education and Conservation Intern (2025)
Selected for Gente Azul's Rising Leader Initiative Cohort – CHOW Participant
Founder – BluEco Swaps (Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies)
Camila’s leadership spans education, entrepreneurship, and environmental equity, driving impactful ocean action from the Keys to the Capitol.
Cynthia Zhang, Monarchs Matter (2024 OurEcho Challenge Winner)
2025 Shane McConkey EcoChallenge – 3rd Place (tie)
2025 National Geographic Slingshot Challenge – Top Honors Award Recipient
Cynthia’s innovative project continues to gain recognition globally. Her work earned her a top spot in Nat Geo’s prestigious Slingshot Challenge, aimed at amplifying bold, youth-led solutions to environmental issues.
Dev Katyal (2024 Marine Plastics Ambassador)
2024 RBC 21 Under 21 Youth Award Honoree
2024 National Youth Climate Activism Award Honoree
2025 WUSA Change Engine Competition – 1st Place Winner
Dev’s tireless work at the intersection of environment, innovation, and youth empowerment continues to earn national accolades.
Emma Chu (Youth Leadership Council)
UBC International Conservation & Forest Resources Management Field School (Ecuador, 2025)
Emma explored Ecuador’s diverse ecosystems and engaged in cross-cultural conservation learning and research on forest ecology in the Amazon, gaining first-hand experience with global sustainability initiatives.
Harper Fortgang, Project Super Plants (2020 OurEcho Challenge Winner)
2025 Shane McConkey EcoChallenge – 3rd Place (tie)
Recipient of The Nueva School’s Joey Fellowship
The fellowship award supports innovative projects for social good, which will help Project Super Plants led by Harper Fortgang, to produce a new series of six videos that will be released to classrooms later this year.
Jack Benson (2024 Marine Plastics Ambassador)
2024 Illinois Conservation Achievement Award Honoree
Jack’s commitment to local environmental conservation is making waves in the Midwest.
Joey Wu (2024 Marine Plastics Ambassador)
This prestigious scholarship funds graduate studies in the United Kingdom, specifically for University of Pennsylvania students.
Kai Tran (Youth Leadership Council)
2024 New Leader Award – America the Beautiful for All Coalition
Kai was honored at the inaugural New Era New Leaders: 5 Years to 30x30 Conference for advocacy work supporting the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary through the OceanEcho 30x30 Fellowship.
Maya Heller (2024 Marine Plastics Ambassador; 2025 Lead Marine Plastics Ambassador; 2024-2025 Water Challenge Ambassador)
2025 Jewish United Fund 18 Under 18 Honoree
Maya is recognized for her leadership in environmental advocacy within and beyond her community.
Paul Junior Malinda (2024 High Seas Ambassador)
Finalist – Young South African of the Year Award
Paul's work advancing tech-driven conservation and youth-led climate action in South Africa continues to gain international recognition.
Pia Visaria (Youth Leadership Council)
As part of Duke’s prestigious Climate Scholars Program, Pia is conducting research on climate resilience, working alongside leading faculty and contributing to community-centered climate solutions.
Sabine Castro (2025 Marine Plastics Ambassador)
Sabine is recognized for combining environmental stewardship with compassion-driven leadership, empowering youth to tackle plastic pollution through community engagement and creative education initiatives.
Siyeon Joo (Youth Leadership Council)
ISEF Louisiana 1st Place – CO₂/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (2025)
2025 Emmy Noether Scholar
Girl Up USA Shoreline Cleanup Leader (2025)
2025 UChicago EYES on Cancer Research Trainee
From pioneering CO₂ reduction research to leading shoreline cleanups and biomedical studies, Siyeon’s commitment to science and sustainability is multifaceted and nationally recognized.
Sonia Violante Ptasznik (2024 High Seas Ambassador)
2025 Ocean Leader Fellow – Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Sonia is participating in both the Our Ocean Conference (Busan, South Korea) and the UN Ocean Conference (Nice, France), where she is organizing youth-led side events and co-leading Generation Artivism, a global initiative using art to advance environmental action.
Team Falinge (2023 OurEcho Challenge Winner)
Commitment to the Environment’ Award – 2024 Educate Rochdale Awards
This U.K.-based team continues to push their OurEcho Challenge project forward, having presented at *Science on Stage Finland* and now collaborating internationally with a Croatian school through a remote wildlife camera initiative.
Team Fungi Frogs (2023 OurEcho Challenge Winner)
2025 RISE Challenge State Champions – Colorado
This student team from the Innovation Center received First Place in the EarthForce Colorado state-wide RISE Challenge for natural disaster resilience.
Valeria Suarez (2023–2024 Water Challenge Ambassador; 2024–2025 Lead Water Challenge Ambassador)
Girl Up USA Heal Our Planet 2.0 Campaign Shoreline Cleanup Leader – $250 Award
As one of 20 youth advocates nationwide, Valeria led a shoreline cleanup in honor of Earth Day for her city’s Girl Up chapter, engaging over 35 youth and collecting 24.5 pounds of trash.