After accepting dozens of applications and recommendations from Gwinnett County Public Schools high school students and administrators, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GCB) announced Friday the “Class of 2017-2018” for its Green Youth Advisory Council. Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the nation’s community improvement nonprofit organization designed a national model for the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) initiative to create a framework for youth engagement and environmental stewardship throughout the U.S. Having successfully beta-tested its own YAC program in Georgia in 2014, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s newest group of 19 student-leaders represents the local eco-focused nonprofit organization’s fourth Green Youth Advisory Council (GYAC).
“All of our Green Youth Advisory Councils in the past have been led by outstanding students within our community,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, in a Friday afternoon press statement.
“We are proud to continue to build upon Keep America Beautiful’s remarkable model of youth service alongside other KAB affiliates all across the nation. Designed to engage youth in the local community, GYAC Council Members will participate in Keep America Beautiful-sanctioned programs aimed at educating youth and changing behavior to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify our cities. In addition, Council members will provide a fresh perspective in assessing our current programs, while designing and implementing their own local service projects and acting as ambassadors for youth service throughout Gwinnett County. It’s an incredible opportunity for these young students to benefit from service-learning and leadership development.”
During their time in the Council, GYAC members will also collaborate with other youth and government leaders to promote sustainability and civic engagement throughout the Gwinnett County community. At the end of the school year, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful will award a $1,000 post-secondary scholarship to the GYAC member who best demonstrates exceptional leadership and program development skills.
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council Members for the 2017-2018 School Year are:
- Sarah Parker – Archer High School
- Jaqueline Sanchez – Berkmar High School
- Joshua Tyrell and Juwon Slater – Central Gwinnett High School
- Theresa Argott and Malika Montgomery – Dacula High School
- Alondra Montiel and Kathy Ho – Discovery High School
- Cameron Karambelas – Grayson High School
- Abigail Mathews and Justin Fung – Gwinnett Online Campus
- Lauryn Saddler and Kevin Chen – Gwinnett School of Math, Science, and Technology
- Hanh Bui – Meadowcreek High School
- Sarah Grace Fanczi – Mill Creek High School
- Jasing Yang, Kimberly Cang and Yung Ning Jao – Norcross High School
- Celine Johnson – North Gwinnett High School
