Westover Junior Takes Flight as Project Green Challenge Finalist

By: Abby Leyson

Since 2018, Science teacher Heather Nuzzo ’91 has had her AP Environmental Science (APES) class take part in Turning Green’s Project Green Challenge, a month-long competition in October that encourages high school, undergraduate, and masters students to inform and inspire people globally about climate action. This year marks an incredible achievement as Westover School placed third out of thousands of schools that participated in the Project Green Challenge (PGC). APES student Sarah Q. ’26 earned a spot in the Top 10 on the Project Green Challenge Leaderboard and was accepted to be a part of the PGC Finals. 

Sarah will join 13 other students at a 4-day eco-summit in San Francisco, CA to work alongside mentors, ambassadors, and partners to bring her Climate Action Project (CAP) to life. Project Green’s CAP allows students to share their solution-based approach to environmental challenges they see in their local and global communities. 

“My Climate Action Project will be called Style Cycle. It will focus on creating a swap shop, similar to a donation space, where people can drop off items they no longer wear or use and, in exchange, take something else from the room. Some of these donations will also go towards a local community in need and will serve as a way to fight against fast fashion and the consumerism mindset and create an additional community space in our school.” – Sarah Q. ’26

While in San Francisco, Sarah will be equipped with the tools and resources to become a leader in climate action. She will also have opportunities to connect with fellow PGC Finalists to share her experiences, learnings and best practices while also gaining new ideas, skills, and perspectives on how to continue her activism upon coming back to Westover. 

“I'm really looking forward to meeting the other Finalists and being able to experience the summit with people who are also incredibly passionate about the environment and sustainability,” Sarah continued. “Overall, it will be such a unique and immersive experience.”

This is only the beginning of Sarah’s journey as she will continue to develop and refine her Climate Action Project after the eco-summit. In April, she will have the opportunity to virtually present her completed CAP in the PGC Finals. 

Congratulations to this year’s APES students for earning third place in the 2024 Project Green Challenge, and special recognition to Sarah for serving her local and larger communities by representing Westover as a PGC Finalist.