A sophomore from Newport Harbor High School gave a presentation this week before world leaders at the United Nations’ 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York City.
Student Ryan Honary spoke about his contribution to capturing youth perspectives and engaging young people in environmental projects to promote sustainable development. Recently, Ryan started a nonprofit organization called Climate Solutions Society, where he aims to bring passionate young minds together to create tangible solutions for tackling climate change.
According to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Ryan recently earned a $3,000 grant from the Global Youth Action Fund, which is through an International Baccalaureate program, for his work in building an open AI-based digital platform for the early detection and growth prediction of wildfires. He was one of only 10 winners from the United States. In total, there were 101 grants awarded worldwide to young innovators.
This was Ryan’s second appearance before world leaders, as he spoke before the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Learning Planet Institute in Paris in January.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded six Orange County schools 2023 National Blue Ribbons, considered the nation’s top honor for individual campuses based on academic achievement.
- Three students from Westminster High School earned two prestigious awards at Intel’s annual AI Global Impact Festival for their artificial intelligence-powered robotic service animal, which they designed for people with visual disabilities.
- One of the nation’s leading science competitions for middle schoolers recognized 12 students from Orange County as top junior innovators in the country.
- The Los Alamitos Unified School District was able to unveil a brand-new outdoor retreat on its high school campus, offering students a place to relax and foster a sense of peace.
- Newport-Mesa Unified’s Early College High School, which gives students opportunities to simultaneously earn up to two year’s worth of college credits, was among this year’s National Blue Ribbon recipients.
- A collaboration with OCDE and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County led to the opening of WellSpace centers at four campuses in the Irvine Unified School District, providing students with supportive environments to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
- The Fullerton School District welcomed Dr. Adaina Brown as its new assistant superintendent of educational services. She’ll provide support for community partnerships and assist in creating innovative educational programs.
- Jiin Yun, a 16-year-old high school senior, launched a nonprofit called The Recycling Dictionary, which educates students across the country about smart recycling practices.
- The Orange County Human Relations Commission tracked a 67 percent increase in hate crimes in 2022 over the previous year, with some incidents occurring on school campuses.
- The Anaheim City Council voted 5-1 to prevent a project that would convert a church into a charter school, as reported by the Voice of OC.
- Capistrano Unified School District board member Lisa Davis plans to present a parental notification policy next month that would alert parents if their child requests to use different names or pronouns, according to the Orange County Register.
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