Hastings High School senior Riya Chandra recently won the 2023 Brower Youth Award, which recognizes outstanding youth leaders making strides in the environmental movement.

“To address the lack of representation of girls of color in nature, in 2021, Chandra started Hiking Youth Program for Equity: Girls (HYPE: GIRLS) and began to arrange hikes, nature walks, and guest lectures for teenage girls of color in the local area.” 

Click here for the New Leaders Initiative webpage to learn more about Riya’s creative leadership and the immediate impact of her efforts.