2026 Earth Day Challenge

The winning project was Plastic Planet to Thriving Planet by Ms. Ciara Winter’s students—Aavya Zachariah, Jasai Zachariah, and Mathias Abiye—from South West Park Elementary School. Their project included extensive research and a detailed action plan focusing on the replacement of common plastic items with eco-friendly alternatives.

Seventh-grade students from George Kelly Elementary School—Chaarvi Gupta, Lia Jacobs, Meghnaa Ganesh, and Merlyn Mathews from Mrs. Shalini Gupta’s class—won for their project Ground Level Ozone. They explored the harmful effects of ground-level ozone, formed by chemical reactions between pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and proposed strategies to mitigate its impact.

Students from Ms. Nishi Dwivedi’s class at Tracy High School—Aydin Assifi, Saihaj Noor Sekhon, Inika Ahmed, Divya Pandya, and Bahaar Rahin—won with their project Fast Fashion. The team examined the environmental, economic, and ethical consequences of the fast fashion industry, particularly the issue of textile waste. Their project also highlighted potential solutions, including recycling and promoting cultural shifts like thrifting.