The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the 2022 recipients of the Grade 6-12 President’s Environmental Youth Award for their contributions toward Operation Leadership Hawaii.
Kaelah Kimura, Joey Misailidis and Katie Rudolf of Punahou School in Oahu, Hawaii, received their honors by the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. The Hawaii team is one of ten student teams across the country to earn the 2022 PEYA award, according to an Aug. 4 EPA news release.
“This year’s award winners demonstrate how environmental education on local issues fosters climate action and environmental stewardship across entire communities,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said in the news release. “Congratulations to Kaelah, Joey and Katie for their leadership in raising awareness of local issues and how those also relate to global issues. Their efforts to lift up environmental leadership and protection are a model for youth everywhere.”
The Operation Leadership Hawaii team developed an initiative to provide free and accessible environmental leadership programming for Oahu fourth- through sixth-graders, particularly for individuals from under-resourced communities, the release reported.
"Recognizing the dire need for free and impactful environmental education in Hawaii, we built the program from the ground up; this included identifying our target audience, researching environmental issues in Hawaii, working with educational and environmental experts, and, eventually, establishing a foundation for Operation Leadership’s program,” Kimura, Misailidis and Rudolf said, according to the news release. “Educating Hawaii youth about environmental issues through our curriculum has helped to inspire future leaders and make a direct impact on our communities through the program.”
According to the news release, more than 140 Hawaii youth were educated last year by engaging volunteers and implementing an environmental curriculum that focused on climate change.
According to the news release, PEYA was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1970. This highlights outstanding community-level environmental projects throughout K-12 youth, promoting awareness of resources and encouraging positive community involvement.
The news release states that each year, PEYA honors several local projects designed by students, school classes, attendees of summer camps and youth organizations to promote environmental stewardship and protection engagement.
