2022 College Scholarship Award Winner
Written by Mary Britton-Simmons
Thanks to the generous donations of Eastside Audubon members, the Youth Education Committee awarded Connie Huang a $5000.00 college scholarship. A senior from Skyline High School in the Issaquah School District, she is passionate about the environment, specifically about climate justice. “I work to advocate for equitable solutions to intersectional issues that are caused by the warming climate. I find myself drawn to creating paths to alleviate the stressors of environmental racism, climate disasters, and global warming that marginalized communities are especially vulnerable to.”
From protesting as a toddler against pruning and mowing her backyard “plant friends” to planning Earth Day protests in Seattle, Connie has always been an activist. As the co-president of her school’s Green Team, she works in the school garden, is involved in upcycling projects, and competed in the first Envirothon chapter at Skyline where they won second place. Her activism does not stop at Skyline’s front door. Connie is a council member of the Future Blue Youth Council which focuses on youth-led environmental projects. In addition, she is a community organizer for Washington Youth for Climate Justice where she plans and leads education circles, develops webinars about climate justice, organizes protests, and helps to establish fund raisers for unhoused people.
In spite of all her activism, she maintains an A average while taking advanced courses at Skyline High School. And her plans for university? “I plan to major in sustainable development and seek to strengthen my ability to ground environmental science in problems of human society by minoring in sociology.”
All applicants must respond to eight questions. When asked, “What is the most interesting thing you have learned in high school,” Connie responded, “In the soil beneath our feet, the trees are talking.” She described their subterrestrial network of communication. “Trees have taught me the importance of mutual love and care in building healthy and sustainable communities where every member feels that their role is central to the community.”
In the future, the world will definitely hear more from Connie Huang. She represents the best of youth and hope for the environment.
Photo Credit: Green Tree by Alexander Kovalyov.