I’m competitive I’m also incredibly passionate about the environment I’ve
passionate about the environment I’ve
passionate about the environment I’ve spent years passionately pursuing unique
spent years passionately pursuing unique
spent years passionately pursuing unique independent experiences of the
independent experiences of the
independent experiences of the environment I completed an independent
environment I completed an independent
environment I completed an independent study researching the rates of
study researching the rates of
study researching the rates of decomposition of supermarket wastes I
decomposition of supermarket wastes I
decomposition of supermarket wastes I worked on a Cornell University study
worked on a Cornell University study
worked on a Cornell University study examining the presence of invasive
examining the presence of invasive
examining the presence of invasive species in a local Creek and I
species in a local Creek and I
species in a local Creek and I collaborated with local businesses to
collaborated with local businesses to
collaborated with local businesses to increase their sustainability through
increase their sustainability through
increase their sustainability through this I’ve attempted to answer questions
this I’ve attempted to answer questions
this I’ve attempted to answer questions about what is that puzzle me in the
about what is that puzzle me in the
about what is that puzzle me in the world around me why do people refuse to
world around me why do people refuse to
world around me why do people refuse to care about the environment why is it a
care about the environment why is it a
care about the environment why is it a unique quality of mine to passionately
unique quality of mine to passionately
unique quality of mine to passionately pursue its protection what can we do
pursue its protection what can we do
pursue its protection what can we do what can I do to get people to reuse
what can I do to get people to reuse
what can I do to get people to reuse compost decrease their consumption and
compost decrease their consumption and
compost decrease their consumption and do more for the environment
do more for the environment
do more for the environment instinctually these questions fill my
instinctually these questions fill my
instinctually these questions fill my mind as I sit in lunch every day
mind as I sit in lunch every day
mind as I sit in lunch every day surrounded by peers who eat half of
surrounded by peers who eat half of
surrounded by peers who eat half of their process lunch and throw the West
their process lunch and throw the West
their process lunch and throw the West rest away on a Styrofoam tray every time
rest away on a Styrofoam tray every time
rest away on a Styrofoam tray every time I see that I know that what they’re
I see that I know that what they’re
I see that I know that what they’re doing is wrong and I want to tell them
doing is wrong and I want to tell them
doing is wrong and I want to tell them and educate them but until last summer I
and educate them but until last summer I
and educate them but until last summer I never tied in my third defining
never tied in my third defining
never tied in my third defining characteristic I love talking and
characteristic I love talking and
characteristic I love talking and teaching my passions had always been
teaching my passions had always been
teaching my passions had always been mine I networked my way to connections
mine I networked my way to connections
mine I networked my way to connections with the mayor and business owners but I
with the mayor and business owners but I
with the mayor and business owners but I hadn’t shared my values with the world
hadn’t shared my values with the world
hadn’t shared my values with the world success we all want to be the best right
success we all want to be the best right
success we all want to be the best right we want to be the best student the
we want to be the best student the
we want to be the best student the fastest athlete the most innovative
fastest athlete the most innovative
fastest athlete the most innovative inventor the most insightful
inventor the most insightful
inventor the most insightful conversationalist whatever it is that we
conversationalist whatever it is that we
conversationalist whatever it is that we do we want to find success to the
do we want to find success to the
do we want to find success to the highest degree when we get there someone
highest degree when we get there someone
highest degree when we get there someone will inevitably follow and will once
will inevitably follow and will once
will inevitably follow and will once again have to redefine what success
again have to redefine what success
again have to redefine what success means in 1957 the Soviet Union launched
means in 1957 the Soviet Union launched
means in 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik the first ever satellite in
Sputnik the first ever satellite in
Sputnik the first ever satellite in space seeing what could be the United
space seeing what could be the United
space seeing what could be the United States a year later launched Explorer 1
States a year later launched Explorer 1
States a year later launched Explorer 1 followed by solar-powered Vanguard and
followed by solar-powered Vanguard and
followed by solar-powered Vanguard and Project score the first ever
Project score the first ever
Project score the first ever communications
communications
communications I threw this our world was inundated in
I threw this our world was inundated in
I threw this our world was inundated in the functionality of satellites not only
the functionality of satellites not only
the functionality of satellites not only did they meet the goals of our nation at
did they meet the goals of our nation at
did they meet the goals of our nation at that day they provided incredible social
that day they provided incredible social
that day they provided incredible social and commercial functions as well the
and commercial functions as well the
and commercial functions as well the satellite television and long-distance
satellite television and long-distance
satellite television and long-distance communication that we take for granted
communication that we take for granted
communication that we take for granted today came as a result of this success
today came as a result of this success
today came as a result of this success the space race has manifested itself in
the space race has manifested itself in
the space race has manifested itself in my life in a series of events the first
my life in a series of events the first
my life in a series of events the first of which occurred in our nation’s
of which occurred in our nation’s
of which occurred in our nation’s capital at the Washington youth summit
capital at the Washington youth summit
capital at the Washington youth summit on the environment there I found myself
on the environment there I found myself
on the environment there I found myself surrounded by peers with shining resumes
surrounded by peers with shining resumes
surrounded by peers with shining resumes and incredible world impacts one of
and incredible world impacts one of
and incredible world impacts one of those peers was Jaxon Hinkle who I’ll
those peers was Jaxon Hinkle who I’ll
those peers was Jaxon Hinkle who I’ll talk more about later at the time I had
talk more about later at the time I had
talk more about later at the time I had established myself as passionate about
established myself as passionate about
established myself as passionate about the environment I’d spent a day a week
the environment I’d spent a day a week
the environment I’d spent a day a week earlier moving queen bees in an attempt
earlier moving queen bees in an attempt
earlier moving queen bees in an attempt to resist the room I and I’ve presented
to resist the room I and I’ve presented
to resist the room I and I’ve presented my independent composting research
my independent composting research
my independent composting research findings at a science fair at Hobart and
findings at a science fair at Hobart and
findings at a science fair at Hobart and William Smith Colleges but I was not
William Smith Colleges but I was not
William Smith Colleges but I was not content I knew that no matter how
content I knew that no matter how
content I knew that no matter how logical composting was if I didn’t share
logical composting was if I didn’t share
logical composting was if I didn’t share its importance with the world and get
its importance with the world and get
its importance with the world and get people to take part none of my efforts
people to take part none of my efforts
people to take part none of my efforts mattered so on the hill I met this pier
mattered so on the hill I met this pier
mattered so on the hill I met this pier right here this is Jackson Hinkle you
right here this is Jackson Hinkle you
right here this is Jackson Hinkle you may know about him as Teen Vogue’s young
may know about him as Teen Vogue’s young
may know about him as Teen Vogue’s young environmentalist of the year you may
environmentalist of the year you may
environmentalist of the year you may know about his work to ban plastic bags
know about his work to ban plastic bags
know about his work to ban plastic bags and bottles in his school district or
and bottles in his school district or
and bottles in his school district or implement solar there you may know about
implement solar there you may know about
implement solar there you may know about his advocacy for the safe storage of
his advocacy for the safe storage of
his advocacy for the safe storage of nuclear waste meeting Jackson opened my
nuclear waste meeting Jackson opened my
nuclear waste meeting Jackson opened my eyes to my failure to share my values
eyes to my failure to share my values
eyes to my failure to share my values with the world but I did not give up I
with the world but I did not give up I
with the world but I did not give up I did not step down and consider myself a
did not step down and consider myself a
did not step down and consider myself a failure I decided I was going to change
failure I decided I was going to change
failure I decided I was going to change my world and so I did by modeling his
my world and so I did by modeling his
my world and so I did by modeling his school based club with a widespread
school based club with a widespread
school based club with a widespread impact I created a club of my own but
impact I created a club of my own but
impact I created a club of my own but where his was coin Team Zissou focusing
where his was coin Team Zissou focusing
where his was coin Team Zissou focusing on advocacy and lifestyle I titled my
on advocacy and lifestyle I titled my
on advocacy and lifestyle I titled my group the Eco geeks environmental
group the Eco geeks environmental
group the Eco geeks environmental education club focusing on education for
education club focusing on education for
education club focusing on education for primary and elementary students through
primary and elementary students through
primary and elementary students through this might impact the skyrocketed not
this might impact the skyrocketed not
this might impact the skyrocketed not only did I work with 15 plus peers to
only did I work with 15 plus peers to
only did I work with 15 plus peers to teach thousands of students about the
teach thousands of students about the
teach thousands of students about the environment recite
environment recite
environment recite green energy and sustainability we
green energy and sustainability we
green energy and sustainability we taught these students kindergarten
taught these students kindergarten
taught these students kindergarten through fifth grade and assemblies about
through fifth grade and assemblies about
through fifth grade and assemblies about sustainability over the holidays the use
sustainability over the holidays the use
sustainability over the holidays the use of a zero-waste system in lunch rooms
of a zero-waste system in lunch rooms
of a zero-waste system in lunch rooms and we help them construct compost bins
and we help them construct compost bins
and we help them construct compost bins in their classrooms our impact did not
in their classrooms our impact did not
in their classrooms our impact did not stop there we worked with adults
stop there we worked with adults
stop there we worked with adults facility the facilities team at our high
facility the facilities team at our high
facility the facilities team at our high school helped us build compost bins the
school helped us build compost bins the
school helped us build compost bins the district office and superintendent of
district office and superintendent of
district office and superintendent of Finance helped us procure grant funding
Finance helped us procure grant funding
Finance helped us procure grant funding the food way food services teams allowed
the food way food services teams allowed
the food way food services teams allowed us to audit the wastes in the cafeterias
us to audit the wastes in the cafeterias
us to audit the wastes in the cafeterias and the superin and the principals of
and the superin and the principals of
and the superin and the principals of the schools helped us implement
the schools helped us implement
the schools helped us implement composting systems in their lunch rooms
composting systems in their lunch rooms
composting systems in their lunch rooms by looking at Jackson’s path I was able
by looking at Jackson’s path I was able
by looking at Jackson’s path I was able to shoot for the stars and find my
to shoot for the stars and find my
to shoot for the stars and find my potential I was able to share my values
potential I was able to share my values
potential I was able to share my values with the world created a lasting
with the world created a lasting
with the world created a lasting infrastructure for sustainability and
infrastructure for sustainability and
infrastructure for sustainability and gain confidence in my future endeavors
gain confidence in my future endeavors
gain confidence in my future endeavors success in 1961 the Soviet Union
success in 1961 the Soviet Union
success in 1961 the Soviet Union launched Yuri Gagarin into space the
launched Yuri Gagarin into space the
launched Yuri Gagarin into space the first ever man there soon after the
first ever man there soon after the
first ever man there soon after the United States sent Alan Shepard in the
United States sent Alan Shepard in the
United States sent Alan Shepard in the first piloted space flight which was
first piloted space flight which was
first piloted space flight which was followed by VOC shot one and two the
followed by VOC shot one and two the
followed by VOC shot one and two the first multi-person cruise and the Gemini
first multi-person cruise and the Gemini
first multi-person cruise and the Gemini missions through this we realized that
missions through this we realized that
missions through this we realized that humans could spend time in space and
humans could spend time in space and
humans could spend time in space and that time could be extended if they had
that time could be extended if they had
that time could be extended if they had water NASA developed water filtration
water NASA developed water filtration
water NASA developed water filtration for to meet this demand and through that
for to meet this demand and through that
for to meet this demand and through that not only did they allow astronauts to
not only did they allow astronauts to
not only did they allow astronauts to stay in space longer it provided people
stay in space longer it provided people
stay in space longer it provided people in poverty and underdeveloped areas of
in poverty and underdeveloped areas of
in poverty and underdeveloped areas of the world with clean drinking water were
the world with clean drinking water were
the world with clean drinking water were before they didn’t have any success at
before they didn’t have any success at
before they didn’t have any success at the Ephraim mentioned some on the
the Ephraim mentioned some on the
the Ephraim mentioned some on the environment I met another peer Catherine
environment I met another peer Catherine
environment I met another peer Catherine McConnell Kate blew my mind not only was
McConnell Kate blew my mind not only was
McConnell Kate blew my mind not only was she an advocate for women and science
she an advocate for women and science
she an advocate for women and science she would be attending the girls nation
she would be attending the girls nation
she would be attending the girls nation conference just a week or so later she
conference just a week or so later she
conference just a week or so later she also was passionate about both political
also was passionate about both political
also was passionate about both political science and astrophysics she took these
science and astrophysics she took these
science and astrophysics she took these passions and desires and brought them
passions and desires and brought them
passions and desires and brought them back home where she founded a group
back home where she founded a group
back home where she founded a group called you go girl okay in her home
called you go girl okay in her home
called you go girl okay in her home state of Oklahoma
state of Oklahoma
state of Oklahoma this group of empowered women worked to
this group of empowered women worked to
this group of empowered women worked to organize protests rallies and community
organize protests rallies and community
organize protests rallies and community events advocating for climate awareness
events advocating for climate awareness
events advocating for climate awareness women’s rights
women’s rights
women’s rights quality Kate shared this to me through
quality Kate shared this to me through
quality Kate shared this to me through her use of social media and her pride in
her use of social media and her pride in
her use of social media and her pride in her group of women she inspired people
her group of women she inspired people
her group of women she inspired people to do in their communities and inspired
to do in their communities and inspired
to do in their communities and inspired me to share the work of my club with my
me to share the work of my club with my
me to share the work of my club with my community to get them to do as well on
community to get them to do as well on
community to get them to do as well on YouTube you can find a video called a
YouTube you can find a video called a
YouTube you can find a video called a parent’s guide to eco-friendly meal prep
parent’s guide to eco-friendly meal prep
parent’s guide to eco-friendly meal prep this video was created by my eco geeks
this video was created by my eco geeks
this video was created by my eco geeks this video collaborates with parents to
this video collaborates with parents to
this video collaborates with parents to get them to increase their student
get them to increase their student
get them to increase their student sustainability a lot of our work in
sustainability a lot of our work in
sustainability a lot of our work in classrooms teaches students we teach
classrooms teaches students we teach
classrooms teaches students we teach them to be passionate about the
them to be passionate about the
them to be passionate about the environment and the necessity for
environment and the necessity for
environment and the necessity for protection but they go home and share
protection but they go home and share
protection but they go home and share this passion with their parents and
this passion with their parents and
this passion with their parents and until their parents stopped sending
until their parents stopped sending
until their parents stopped sending plastic bags and bottles disposable
plastic bags and bottles disposable
plastic bags and bottles disposable packaging and access food the students
packaging and access food the students
packaging and access food the students aren’t actually practicing the
aren’t actually practicing the
aren’t actually practicing the sustainability that we teach them
sustainability that we teach them
sustainability that we teach them through utilizing this platform we’re
through utilizing this platform we’re
through utilizing this platform we’re able to communicate what the parents
able to communicate what the parents
able to communicate what the parents need to do effectively and through this
need to do effectively and through this
need to do effectively and through this our impact has increased incredibly
our impact has increased incredibly
our impact has increased incredibly additionally you can find the Eco geeks
additionally you can find the Eco geeks
additionally you can find the Eco geeks on Instagram we utilize this platform
on Instagram we utilize this platform
on Instagram we utilize this platform because of our large base of peers that
because of our large base of peers that
because of our large base of peers that are also there through this we can share
are also there through this we can share
are also there through this we can share updates tips and events with these peers
updates tips and events with these peers
updates tips and events with these peers and through showing our actions we
and through showing our actions we
and through showing our actions we inspire them to take action of their own
inspire them to take action of their own
inspire them to take action of their own success after Luna tans orbit of the
success after Luna tans orbit of the
success after Luna tans orbit of the moon the United States took one giant
moon the United States took one giant
moon the United States took one giant leap and landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz
leap and landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz
leap and landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon this was a mere
Aldrin on the moon this was a mere
Aldrin on the moon this was a mere aspiration just decades before and
aspiration just decades before and
aspiration just decades before and through striving towards that which
through striving towards that which
through striving towards that which could be we were able to achieve it
could be we were able to achieve it
could be we were able to achieve it after landing humans on the moon in the
after landing humans on the moon in the
after landing humans on the moon in the space race that induced this we found
space race that induced this we found
space race that induced this we found ourselves with more innovation the Black
ourselves with more innovation the Black
ourselves with more innovation the Black & Decker Apollo core sampling drills led
& Decker Apollo core sampling drills led
& Decker Apollo core sampling drills led to the ubiquitous cordless vacuum
to the ubiquitous cordless vacuum
to the ubiquitous cordless vacuum cleaner the rubber made by Goodyear for
cleaner the rubber made by Goodyear for
cleaner the rubber made by Goodyear for the Viking Mars Lander led to a tread
the Viking Mars Lander led to a tread
the Viking Mars Lander led to a tread that had 10,000 more miles of life
that had 10,000 more miles of life
that had 10,000 more miles of life success a trip to the moon in Latin my
success a trip to the moon in Latin my
success a trip to the moon in Latin my life occurred at the college of the
life occurred at the college of the
life occurred at the college of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor Maine where I
Atlantic in Bar Harbor Maine where I
Atlantic in Bar Harbor Maine where I found
found
found myself surrounded by 20 or so peers who
myself surrounded by 20 or so peers who
myself surrounded by 20 or so peers who discussed the library of Babel learned
discussed the library of Babel learned
discussed the library of Babel learned about the power to analyze programs and
about the power to analyze programs and
about the power to analyze programs and developed an understanding of nature’s
developed an understanding of nature’s
developed an understanding of nature’s ability to form connections I had
ability to form connections I had
ability to form connections I had established my eco geeks well at that
established my eco geeks well at that
established my eco geeks well at that time and was proud of all the work we
time and was proud of all the work we
time and was proud of all the work we were doing but I of course was ambitious
were doing but I of course was ambitious
were doing but I of course was ambitious I wanted more but with all the weight of
I wanted more but with all the weight of
I wanted more but with all the weight of coordination and logistics on my
coordination and logistics on my
coordination and logistics on my shoulders I could not achieve the
shoulders I could not achieve the
shoulders I could not achieve the success that I wanted there surrounded
success that I wanted there surrounded
success that I wanted there surrounded by like-minded peers and incredible
by like-minded peers and incredible
by like-minded peers and incredible teachers like Bonnie Tai I learned about
teachers like Bonnie Tai I learned about
teachers like Bonnie Tai I learned about the power of collaboration in Bonnie’s
the power of collaboration in Bonnie’s
the power of collaboration in Bonnie’s class qualitative program evaluation
class qualitative program evaluation
class qualitative program evaluation methods I learned about the power of
methods I learned about the power of
methods I learned about the power of collaboration through the anal analysis
collaboration through the anal analysis
collaboration through the anal analysis of a program called success this program
of a program called success this program
of a program called success this program was a farm-to-school collaboration
was a farm-to-school collaboration
was a farm-to-school collaboration taught by college of the atlantic
taught by college of the atlantic
taught by college of the atlantic students that worked in elementary
students that worked in elementary
students that worked in elementary schools to teach them about the
schools to teach them about the
schools to teach them about the environment as eco geeks to through
environment as eco geeks to through
environment as eco geeks to through analyzing its success I was able to
analyzing its success I was able to
analyzing its success I was able to understand how I could increase my
understand how I could increase my
understand how I could increase my impact was out increasing the burden
impact was out increasing the burden
impact was out increasing the burden upon myself when I returned home I
upon myself when I returned home I
upon myself when I returned home I worked with my eco geeks a group of six
worked with my eco geeks a group of six
worked with my eco geeks a group of six or so of them and we formed a leadership
or so of them and we formed a leadership
or so of them and we formed a leadership team this group had a person working on
team this group had a person working on
team this group had a person working on grant funding and finances someone
grant funding and finances someone
grant funding and finances someone working on curriculum development the
working on curriculum development the
working on curriculum development the coordination and logistics behind the
coordination and logistics behind the
coordination and logistics behind the lessons and assemblies and of course a
lessons and assemblies and of course a
lessons and assemblies and of course a social media specialist we were able to
social media specialist we were able to
social media specialist we were able to find success more maintainable and
find success more maintainable and
find success more maintainable and enjoyable and taught an increased number
enjoyable and taught an increased number
enjoyable and taught an increased number of lessons
of lessons
of lessons additionally we created an
additionally we created an
additionally we created an infrastructure that will allow the club
infrastructure that will allow the club
infrastructure that will allow the club to continue successfully after I
to continue successfully after I
to continue successfully after I graduate this June success so what could
graduate this June success so what could
graduate this June success so what could you be we could be the society that
you be we could be the society that
you be we could be the society that finally addresses the problems our
finally addresses the problems our
finally addresses the problems our environments facing every day we could
environments facing every day we could
environments facing every day we could create an eco nation that mimics efforts
create an eco nation that mimics efforts
create an eco nation that mimics efforts of Finland Sweden Denmark and Iceland
of Finland Sweden Denmark and Iceland
of Finland Sweden Denmark and Iceland the environmental performance index is
the environmental performance index is
the environmental performance index is top performers we could raise a
top performers we could raise a
top performers we could raise a generation of instinctually sustainable
generation of instinctually sustainable
generation of instinctually sustainable kids who raise their children the same
kids who raise their children the same
kids who raise their children the same way we could collaborate with artists
way we could collaborate with artists
way we could collaborate with artists scientists and businessmen to work with
scientists and businessmen to work with
scientists and businessmen to work with sea
sea
sea Oh senators and engineers and
Oh senators and engineers and
Oh senators and engineers and effectively communicate our ideas the
effectively communicate our ideas the
effectively communicate our ideas the piece we could be a society of game
piece we could be a society of game
piece we could be a society of game changers problem solvers doers so take a
changers problem solvers doers so take a
changers problem solvers doers so take a moment to define what is in your life
moment to define what is in your life
moment to define what is in your life what you are what you do and then dream
what you are what you do and then dream
what you are what you do and then dream what could be what could you be what
what could be what could you be what
what could be what could you be what could you do find someone who is what
could you do find someone who is what
could you do find someone who is what could be and use their success to
could be and use their success to
could be and use their success to inspire yours who knows you just might
inspire yours who knows you just might
inspire yours who knows you just might end up on the moon thank you
end up on the moon thank you
end up on the moon thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment