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ECOAMBASSADORS

WHAT IS AN ECOAMBASSADOR?

EcoAmbassadors are high school students who work with their local communities to address environmental concerns by implementing projects, organizing cleanups, and educating community members to promote sustainable change in Howard County. The program is funded by Live Green Howard through the plastic bag fee.

EcoAmbassadors receive a stipend, training, and support from Howard EcoWorks and the Smithsonian Institute's Earth Optimism Youth Action Leadership (EOYAL) so they can:

Design and implement behavior change projects
Conduct community outreach
Influence local legislation
Develop professionalism and practical communication skills and,
Deepen their sense of environmental stewardship

WHY BECOME AN ECOAMBASSADOR?

Research your interests in a supportive environment
Receive a stipend of $500
Learn more about your community and its needs
Flexible hours to complete projects
Gain valuable skills such as leadership and project management

In addition, EcoWorks' partnership with the Smithsonian Institute provides EcoAmbassadors with the opportunity to:

Participate in Smithsonian-sponsored field trips
Learn and network with professionals addressing climate change
Compete for student internships at the Smithsonian Institute, World Wildlife Fund, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Receive a certificate of participation and project completion from the Smithsonian Institute and World Wildlife Fund

ROLE RESPONSABILITIES:

EcoAmbassadors must have weekend availability to:

Attend meetings occurring on the first Saturday of the month from 1-3 pm
Participate in 2-3 fields trips in coordination with the Smithsonian Institute (dates TBD)
Please see this year's schedule for more details.

With support and training from the EcoWorks team, EcoAmbassadors will:

Engage 2-3 local partners in their communities
Lead one educational event or one cleanup event (individually or in pairs)
Attend 2-3 webinars or presentations with conservation specialists
Provide a Project Showcase and Celebration that highlights EA projects

WHO CAN BECOME AN ECOAMBASSADOR?

Qualifications & Requirements:

Must be 16 years or older
Current student at one of Howard County’s high schools

Experience working with student organizations
Can work independently to complete projects
Experience in leadership roles
Occasional weekend availability
Internet connectivity

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

Passion for environmental stewardship
After school availability
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written

'22-'23 Cohort Showcase

Interest Form

MEET THE 2022-2023 ALUMNI
Representing Reservoir, Centennial, Atholton, Marriott Ridge, River Hill, Howard, Mt. Hebron, Wild Lake and Oakland Mills

Sandra Kyle

Sandra is a Junior in high school and enjoys the outdoors, particularly by hiking and kayaking. She is a member of several academic clubs such as the American Sign Language club, the theatre club, the Society of Women Engineers, and the International Thespian Society. She has also been a Girl Scout for twelve years and is currently working on earning her Gold Award after having previously earned her Silver and Bronze Awards. In her free time Sandra enjoys researching permaculture, listening to music, reading, and hangout with her friends.

Faith Foncham

Faith is a high school senior. With her passion for sustainability, thrifting and sewing she hopes to reduce her environmental impact and influence others to do the same. She participates in various school activities, such as Black Student Union, Green Team, National English Honor Society, etc.

Atharv Nadkarni

Atharv is a junior and an honor roll student, and very interested in STEM-related activities. He loves nature and spends his time hiking with friends, and has his own vegetable garden. He is a member of his school’s French Honor Society Executive Board, and National Honor Society, as well as the HOSA, Red Cross, Engineering, and Table Tennis Club. These extracurriculars show his dedication and his commitment.

Lindsey Sands

Lindsey Sands is a high school senior at Wilde Lake High School. She is the co-hub coordinator for Sunrise Movement of Howard County, and a Certified Ambassador with the Youth Climate Change Institute. She also participates in a number of other environmental groups. In her free time, she likes learning languages and creating art.

Evan Borodin

Evan is a senior and honors student at Reservoir High School, where he is an active member of the Speech and Debate team. He has previously worked on various environmental advocacy projects, including the Howard County's Conservancy Plastics Task Force and Climate Change Institute, and was a lead student panelist at the Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference. In his spare time, he enjoys biking and baking.

Jessica Li

Jessica is a hard-working high school junior and is involved in many extracurricular activities. She has volunteered for various organizations and earned the President’s Gold Service Award three times. Jessica is the Co-Chair of CAPA-HC Cares and she devotes her time to improving the lives of the senior citizens in the community. Jessica is also an AP student and currently holds an internship at the County Council. As a Climate Ambassador at the Youth Climate Institute in Howard County, Jessica has participated in climate advocacy and strives to continue working with the environment.

Srinidhi Gadiyaram

Srinidhi Gadiyaram is a junior at Centennial High School dedicated to environmental justice and the spread of resources for her community. She is a part of many Green organizations including the Youth Climate Institute, Our Revolution with mentor Paul Baicich, and the Chesapeake Youth Initiative where she dedicated her summer to a project about water quality and the different areas of effects surrounding it. She demonstrates dedication to her craft through extensive research done on a variety of topics and seeking out lab work, in order to develop her knowledge to share. Outside of environmental responsibilities, she enjoys playing tennis, and chess, and reading books.

Saketh Sundar

Saketh is a high school senior and an avid environmentalist and leader in his community. At school, he is the captain of the River Hill Science Olympiad team, competing and leading students in biology, environmental science, and engineering events. Additionally, he serves as an officer in the technology honors society and the biology club. Outside of school, Saketh has pursued environmentalism through legislative advocacy and education through the Howard County Conservancy Youth Climate Institute, but also through research as an intern at NASA Harvest and an independent water quality researcher. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, taking hikes, and watching football.

Pooja Dahiwadkar

Pooja is a high school Junior who is invested in helping her community. With her FTC robotics team, she teaches young students about robotics and the FIRST program, focusing on gender minorities within the STEM field. She is also part of a team that runs an Instagram page for mental health awareness in teens in the Howard County community. In school, she is a member of both the National and National Music Honor Societies, along with being Publicity Officer for the baking club, and enjoying roller skating, tennis, playing French Horn, and hiking.

If you have any questions about these programs, please contact our Program Manager, Campbell, at cshepard@howardecoworks.org

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ECOAMBASSADORS

MEET THE 2022-2023 ALUMNI
Representing Reservoir, Centennial, Atholton, Marriott Ridge, River Hill, Howard, Mt. Hebron, Wild Lake and Oakland Mills

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ECOAMBASSADORS

MEET THE 2022-2023 ALUMNI Representing Reservoir, Centennial, Atholton, Marriott Ridge, River Hill, Howard, Mt. Hebron, Wild Lake and Oakland Mills

Join our Newsletters!

MEET THE 2022-2023 ALUMNI
Representing Reservoir, Centennial, Atholton, Marriott Ridge, River Hill, Howard, Mt. Hebron, Wild Lake and Oakland Mills