ECO-HERO AWARD WINNERS
Amaira Kapoor
2026: 1st PLACE
Amaira Kapoor, a 16-year-old innovator, founded "Project Vaayu" to build low-cost evaporative cooling units from upcycled terracotta cups, lowering classroom temperatures in under-resourced schools by up to 10°C during extreme heatwaves.
Hala Sharafeddine
2026: 2nd PLACE
Hala Sharafeddine, a 16-year-old innovator from Beirut, founded "Code for Earth" to empower young women across MENA and South Asia with coding skills to build tech-driven solutions for local environmental challenges.
Jack Aronian
2026: 2nd PLACE
Jack Aronian, a 16-year-old scientist and filmmaker from New York, launched the H5N1 Prevention Initiative to produce educational films on bird flu and establish a national biosecurity network for wildlife sanctuaries.
Gunisha Kaur
2026: 3rd PLACE
Gunisha Kaur, a 16-year-old researcher from Ludhiana, founded "Buzzing Blooms" to build sensory-friendly, chemical-free pollinator gardens across India and Thailand, combining urban ecological restoration with neurodivergent youth inclusion.
Arjun Jain
2026: 3rd PLACE
Arjun Jain, a 16-year-old urban agriculturist from New Jersey, created "HydroBlossom" to build high-yield soil-less hydroponic systems, donating thousands of pounds of organic produce and influencing local food-system policy.
Abhiveer Gulati
2026: 3rd PLACE
Abhiveer Gulati, a 16-year-old activist from Delhi, founded the "NCR Clean Air Campaign" to address environmental injustice by distributing health protection gear, engaging communities, and pursuing legal litigation to mandate municipal accountability for air quality.
Stella Hong
2026: HONORABLE MENTION
Stella Hong, a 16-year-old researcher from Virginia, founded "HydroHarvest" to engineer upcycled, zero-electricity hydroponic grow kits, providing food-insecure urban families with low-maintenance, sustainable access to fresh produce.