Greenlight Award™ Winners Announced

New entrants from the Boys and Girls Club or Northern Westchester amongst winners in the Bedford 2030 7th Annual Greenlight Award Finals

Thirty students from five different high schools participated in Bedford 2030’s 7th annual Greenlight Award ™ finals. Fourteen teams have worked since the fall to develop their environmental ideas, identify solutions, and finally present their outcomes. Student teams virtually presented their work to a panel of judges from a variety of industry backgrounds. Teams were evaluated on execution of their project, use of resources, and measurable impact of their actions. 

Bedford Town Supervisor Ellen Calves opened the competition by commending students for using their interests, talent, passion, and skills to make the world a better place.

Supervisor Calves went on to say, “This program is about empowering students to take the things they are interested in and give them tools and resources to do something with it; to learn how to set a goal, devise a strategy, make a plan, carry it out, and measure results – many adults have no idea how to effectively do that. These students have learned a lot, worked hard to carry out the project and prepare for today.”

The finalists this year covered topics ranging from educational programs within schools, to recycling and upcycling of waste-products, to addressing ways to reduce vehicle emissions and foster easier, smarter ways to reduce our personal carbon footprints.  Prizes range from $100 to $500.

Winners (CLICK TEAM NAME TO VIEW THEIR ELEVATOR PITCH)

1st place: Tie

The Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester: Led by Sophia Trejo, her colleagues included Josephenne Fernandez, Kacy Espitia, Melany Giron, Jessica Deleg, Roselyn Carreño, Alba Martinez, Linda, Ester Ramirez. 

Entering the competition for the first time this year, team “Blue Thumb” successfully established a comprehensive recycling program to educate and inspire students from K to grade 5. In turn, students were inspired to share these ideas with families and friends, initiating a long-term sustainable solution for the community.

Sidney Sicignano, Fox Lane High School.

Sidney’s project “Reduction of Food Waste at Fox Lane High School” redirects the school’s wasted food into regular food donations, benefitting the wider community.

2nd place

Neel Roy, Horace Greeley High School.

Neel’s app design project, “Managing my Water”, tackled household water waste in this country. Neel developed an App to educate and bring efficient water management habits to every household.

3rd place: Tie

Team ADA: David Colin, Apolline Weinstein, and Aidan McIntosh, Rye Country Day School. Their project “The Community Coalition” encouraged green certification for Rye restaurants to encourage sustainable consumer choices. By raising awareness in the restaurant community, they aim to to foster greener choices in the industry.

Lexi Marshall, Horace Greeley High School.

Her project “Charge Up Chappaqua” is working to establish EV charging stations at school with an expectation to bring more EV chargers to Chappaqua.

As Supervisor Calves stated in her opening remarks, Bedford 2030 applauds these students for taking on the biggest challenge of our time: Climate Change.  “It’s going to take everyone’s efforts to solve this problem. You are inspiring and you are amazing.”