ECO-HERO AWARD WINNERS

Nicolina Pappas

Nicolina Pappas

2nd PLACE
Nicolina Pappas, a 13-year-old from the United States, combats single-use plastic pollution through Nicolina's Turtle Co. She has raised over $15,000 for conservation, educated thousands, and successfully advocated for her "Skip the Plastic Campaign," leading to city-wide proclamations and state resolutions like "Skip the Plastic Day."

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Elvia Gómez Troya

Elvia Gómez Troya

HONORABLE MENTION
Elvia Gómez Troya, 13, from Egüés, Navarra, Spain, is "Elvia the Tracker," inspiring global conservation. Through her popular Instagram, published book, and direct anti-poaching efforts in Zambia, she shares a profound love for wildlife, educating thousands and fostering respect for nature.

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Priyanshi Poddar

Priyanshi Poddar

1st PLACE
Priyanshi Poddar, 16, from Biratnagar, Nepal, is transforming rubber waste into comfort and dignity for underserved communities. Through her Saathi initiative, she upcycles discarded rubber into mats and clogs, benefiting over 4,000 individuals and preventing significant CO₂ emissions.

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Charmante Espoire Nduwayo

Charmante Espoire Nduwayo

2nd PLACE
Charmante Espoire Nduwayo, 15, from Bujumbura, Burundi, is saving the Gikoma River. Through tree planting and community education on sanitary waste, she's stabilized riverbanks, reduced pollution, and safeguarded her community's health and livelihoods.

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Lucile Morehouse

Lucile Morehouse

HONORABLE MENTION
Lucile Morehouse, 14, from Oklahoma, leads "Lucile's Pollinator Project," distributing thousands of native seed packets globally. She's sowing seeds of change, raising awareness, and fostering vital habitats to combat pollinator decline.

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Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera

Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera

DR. MARY GRIFFIN-JONES AWARD
Ana Lucía Pérez Escalera, 13, from Salinas, Puerto Rico, leads "De a Pokito por Puerto Rico." She educates over 100,000 people on environmental care and waste reduction through STEAM, hackathons, and legislative advocacy.

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Dominic Oviedo Löwen

Dominic Oviedo Löwen

SHIMON SCHWARZSCHILD AWARD
Dominic Oviedo Löwen, 16, from Itauguá, Paraguay, leads "Mymba Saite." He meticulously documents and shares his country's biodiversity, awakening love for wild animals through books, social media, and education.

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Esad Çakır

Esad Çakır

FINALIST
Esad Çakır, 13, from Istanbul, Turkey, created the "Ocean Literacy" project, a school-wide initiative to make ocean science accessible to students from kindergarten through middle school and inspire them to become problem-solvers for our oceans.

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Nigel D'Souza

Nigel D'Souza

FINALIST
Nigel D'Souza, 14, from Arusha, Tanzania, is a dedicated young herpetologist and conservationist. He uses his platform to educate communities about the importance of snakes, dispelling common fears and highlighting their crucial role in the ecosystem.

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Benjamin Oroszlan

Benjamin Oroszlan

FINALIST
Benjamin Oroszlan, 16, from Calabasas, California, is the founder of the P-22 Youth Wildlife Awareness Initiative. He educates thousands of elementary school students on the importance of wildlife coexistence, inspired by the new Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

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Dylan Turzak

Dylan Turzak

FINALIST
Dylan Turzak, 16, from Scotts Valley, California, is the founder of We Are Planet Protectors, an educational platform that inspires elementary school children through published books, free curricula, and engaging in-person activities to become lifelong environmental stewards.

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