Bedford 2030’s 8th Annual Greenlight Award™ advances to the Finals

Teams from eleven Westchester high schools & youth groups joined a virtual platform on December 10th, 2022 to share their ideas to tackle an environmental problem in a targeted community of their choice. Individuals &teams of students began brainstorming ideas last October and spent 4-6 weeks developing their ideas. In round one of the Greenlight Award™ program – the Proposal Showcase – each team pitched their idea to different evaluators.

Approximately 70 students from the following schools and organizations participated in this year’s Greenlight Awards™:

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Briarcliff High School, Croton 100, Hastings High School, Horace Greeley, Irvington High School, John Jay High School, Peekskill High School, Rye Country Day School, Yonkers High School, Yonkers Partners in Education.

Over 30 local experts from across a variety of industries and backgrounds discussed project feasibility and the potential to reduce carbon emissions. Project ideas included reducing waste, increasing recycling, lowering consumption, and making cleaner energy choices. Teams will use a variety of tactics, including advocacy or innovation, to raise awareness and encourage a measurable and impactful change in local carbon footprint.

Experts and student advisors navigated an online conference space that mimicked a science fair layout. Teams shared their presentation via video conference, allowing for private discussions in a virtual space. This online platform allowed for an efficient series of meetings and eliminated carbon emissions from the travel of 100 participants.

The Proposal Showcase provided students with honest feedback from experts to help guide them towards a more impactful project. Along with the targeted verbal and written feedback, experts awarded numerical feasibility scores and Bedford 2030 funding recommendations.

“The students all had such a positive experience [at the Proposal Showcase]. It is so empowering for them to get such thorough consultation with their ideas (…) to receive this kind of respect and attention (…) and it will go a very long way!” said Jacob Schofield, a teacher from Yonkers Partners In Education, and faculty advisor to student teams competing this year. “It’s a joy to learn about engaged students’ ideas to lower our carbon footprints”, commented Michele Rudolph, of Riverside Design and a Proposal Showcase evaluator.

Teams were then given the opportunity to reflect on the strength of their projects. Midge Iorio, executive director of Bedford 2030 commented, “We are delighted that 20 teams have chosen to ‘Greenlight’ their projects, and proceed to round two – the execution phase. Teams will present the results and impact of their projects at the Greenlight Award™ Finals on April 29, 2023. We are equally delighted that after 2 years of hosting the Finals virtually, the 8th Annual Greenlight Award™ in 2023 will return to being an in-person event, with teams presenting their final projects in front of a panel of judges.” Ms. Iorio further commented, “With students from a range of schools across the area involved, we cannot wait to be inspired, once again this year at the finals, by the students’ projects to create positive environmental change!”

Bedford 2030’s Greenlight Award™ program is grateful for the financial support of repeat sponsors Curtis Instruments and Hickory & Tweed. Their belief in the projects and the program is a reflection of the passion the students have for their ideas to create change.

Program Manager, Louise Alverson commented that “the Greenlight Award aligns with Bedford 2030’s community-wide mission to reduce carbon emissions and preserve natural resources. It is inspiring to see students empowered to take ideas and create impactful change in their communities. We derive great satisfaction that this program helps develop the students’ skills such as collaboration, leadership, research, problem-solving, stakeholder management, as well as support their vision as change-makers, and future environmental leaders.”

To learn more about Greenlight Award™, please visit bedford2030.org/greenlight or email greenlightaward@bedford2030.org