In recognition of instituting Marlborough’s environmentally-friendly trash disposal system in November, Delaney ‘20 and Julia ‘20 won the “Environmental Rejuvenation” award at the Global Youth Awards. 

The Global Youth Awards were created in 2012 to recognize and reward inspirational young people delivering positive-impact projects. There are three areas of recognition: Educational Innovation, Empowering Everyone and Environmental Rejuvenation. Delaney and Julia nominated themselves for “Environmental Rejuvenation” and were then invited to the Global Youth Awards event in Glendale, California, as finalists. Finalists are picked out of thousands of self-nominated students throughout the U.S. Head of School Dr. Pricilla Sands and Science Department Head Lisa Ellis accompanied Delaney and Julia to the awards ceremony.

Ellis approached the pair with an opportunity to showcase their innovation at the Global Youth Awards on Nov. 16. They moved on to be finalists within the “Environmental Rejuvenation” category, which highlights impactful and
innovative projects focusing on Environmental issues. Delaney and Julia were invited to the Global Youth Awards event as finalists where they were announced the winners.

Delaney and Julia said they were shocked to have won the award. 

“We did not expect to win… before they called the actual names they gave a description of what the winners did and we could tell it was us,” Julia said.  

They said they realized, if they were to win, they had not prepared a speech of recognition. Delaney and Julia began to write what they might say while sitting at the ceremony.

The two won the award for work they began as sophomores. Delaney and Julia saw all of the utensils, plates and plastic at Winterfest and realized they needed to do something about the way trash was disposed of, so they decided to tackle food waste and plastic on campus.

“Marlborough has all these resources and funds,” Delaney said. “We should at least try to be more conscious about our eco-footprint.” 

With the help of faculty members, including Ellis, Director of Facilities and Capital Planning Matthew Riddle and Assistant Facilities Manager Stephan Hodel, Delaney and Julia implemented a composting system at Marlborough in conjunction with an off-campus composting site. Compost bins were added around campus, along with the normal trash bins and recycling bins. 

“We’ve had a really big impact on the way we manage our waste at Marlborough, and that’s a lasting impact,” Ellis said. “It’s not just while Delaney and Julia are] here and then it’s over. It’s going to continue… I am proud of them for putting themselves forward for the award.” 

Even after their recognition, Delaney and Julia continue to reinforce composting and change in their communities. 

“It’s my duty to help everyone understand the consequences of climate change because we’re all impacted by it, and we should all do something about it,” Delaney said.