A B O U T U S
by youth & for youth
The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit is an entirely youth-run network of movement-builders, creating in-depth and interdisciplinary workshops and mobilizing local Bay Area high schoolers.
our story!
The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS) was born out of a need for effective virtual activism during the pandemic. Founded in May of 2020, the inaugural BAYCS Youth Advisory Council connected environmental leaders from 15 schools based in San Francisco, becoming a community hub that has grown ever since. After five months planning, BAYCS put on the first-ever Bay Area Youth Climate Summit on September 12th, 2020, bringing together over 280 youth from 88 schools and 14 states for a day of workshops, discussions, and Climate Action Planning.
Outside of our summits, we have run monthly workshops on topics ranging from local air quality inequity to Indigenous climate activism to ARTivism. These workshops are opportunities to explore different facets of the environmental movement and for youth to meet and connect. Additionally, in 2022, we hosted our first annual Earth Day Festival focused on climate joy and hope, bringing together Bay Area school environmental clubs, bands, and artists. BAYCS has also worked to support community mutual aid efforts, donating over $15,000 in hygiene kits to local community fridges in Oakland, Marin, and San Francisco, 430 books to the Children’s Book Project, and supporting circular fashion efforts through a Smartwool Sock Drive in 2023.
Since this first summit, we have built off this foundation and our summits have grown. Our 2021 summit consisted of both a virtual and in-person section, hosted at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. We hosted our 2022 summit at the World Affairs Building, uniting over 100 youth and educators through nine interactive workshops. In 2023, we held our summit at the California Academy of Sciences, uniting over 230 youth. Our 2024 summit was held at the University of California, San Francisco. Our most recent summit in September 2025 was held at Fort Mason, San Francisco, with 14 workshops, 25 tables and over 150 attendees.
The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit strives to foster a local community of high schoolers that is empowered to both learn deeply about the climate crisis and take action. If you are an interested young person, we encourage you to join us in the fight for climate justice!
credit: ProBonoPhoto.org/Gary Oehrle
by the numbers!
9k+
total youth engaged
110+
climate-related
workshops
240+
high schools connected
2.5k+
social media followers
180+
people reached
through CAPs!
meet the team!
Padma is a senior at Mission San Jose High School, where she’s involved in the school newspaper and orchestra. She’s passionate about all things journalism, especially its intersection with climate change and climate policy. In her free time, she enjoys binge-watching Ghibli movies and going on walks.
Kate is a senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, leading the school’s Green Team with trash cleanups and collaborative events. She is passionate about contributing to positive social change and protecting our future through our collective agency; she strives to pursue her passions for social justice and STEM and is excited to further her goals through her involvement with BAYCS. Outside of the climate movement, she enjoys rowing for SI’s crew, listening to and performing music, and spending time outdoors.
Emily Yang is a senior at Balboa High School in San Francisco. Since 2023, she has worked with BAYCS to explore her passion for environmental justice, climate policy, and youth advocacy. She is especially passionate about public policy and government, aspiring to pursue environmental law in the future. Outside of BAYCS, she is a Citywide Commissioner on the San Francisco Youth Commission and Co-Executive Director for chapter organization Voters Of Tomorrow. In her free time, Emily loves playing the flute, soccer, swimming, and discovering new cuisines.
Bella is a senior at Heritage High School and has always been eager to make an impact on her environment. Her passion is directed towards Climate Psychology and the effect of climate on the daily lives of many. Through her school, she is part of a variety of clubs including Project Climate, Animal Care, and Garden Club. Although one of her most prominent passions is climate activism, she also enjoys cooking, traveling, and water polo. Though she is new to BAYCS, she is excited to make a difference through our organization!
Alexandra is a senior at Lick-Wilmerding High School. She loves to create art and bake pastries for her friends and family. Alexandra is the co-leader of First & Proud, a club at Lick that supports first generation students from across the Bay Area with their educational journeys. She aspires to inform about the climate crisis with STEM, especially the ways in which toxic chemicals emitted into the air contribute to its pollution, impacting both the environment and the organisms within it.
Ryan is a senior at the Head-Royce School in Oakland and has been actively engaged in climate and social activism since the second grade. He is the leader of Head-Royce's Environmental Justice Initiative and Green Operations Squad, and as a member of the Community Engagement Board, he works with faculty and administrators to raise awareness for climate injustices in the East Bay and around the country. Ryan is the founder and host of A Change is a Chance, a podcast and youth community focused on surfacing truths around some of the most pressing global issues. In his free time, Ryan loves to sing karaoke, play with his little brother, or cook up a hearty hot pot for the family!
Zoe is a senior at the Bay School of San Francisco. She is really passionate about climate action. At her school, Zoe is a member of Project Super Plants, another youth-led organization to educate students about the growing climate issue. In Zoe's free time, she likes tutoring, playing piano, and fencing. At BAYCS, Zoe hopes to create an innovative and positive influence on the world’s current situation.
Caroline is a junior at Marin Academy. She discovered her passion for addressing climate-related issues through a third-grade project on pollution and has been actively engaged in the field ever since; Caroline joined BAYCS in 2023 and has led her school’s Climate Action Club for the past two years, and is driven by a passion for climate education and making immediate climate action more accessible. Beyond her work in climate advocacy, Caroline has a deep love for… science, hiking, spending time with friends and family, and sunsets at Bo Ridge.
Alan is a junior at Balboa High School. He is determined and passionate in making positive environmental impacts by collaborating and working with other high school students to implement environmental-friendly projects. Alan is a substitute volunteer captain / intern for Refuse Refuse. In his role, he co-led 9 cleanups, worked with a group of three distributing over 7k door hangers to inform the public in regards of upcoming cleanups, and collected over 140 pounds of trash. Alan strives for the best and he is excited to continue his contributions for the environment!
Zoe is a junior at The Nueva School. From a young age, she loved to visit aquariums and go on hikes, which led to her love of nature and passion for environmental activism. She is part of two environmental-related clubs at her school and has enjoyed leading/participating in events, including fundraisers, eco action raisers, etc. In her free time, she loves to play volleyball, listen to true crime podcasts, and eat tasty food. She also loves to travel the world and experience different cultures. By joining BAYCS, she hopes to inspire other youth to make their voices heard in the climate space and to continue her journey of learning.
Natalie is a junior at San Mateo High School. Inspired to prevent rising sea levels from destroying wildlife in her area, she is passionate about geology, oceanography, and biological innovation in the climate sphere. Natalie is a 2025 Stanford Young Investigator and advocates for local climate policy with 350 Silicon Valley and SVYCA.
Natalie is the drummer in a rock band and pole vaults when she's not finding the next summit venue!
Luci is a junior at Heritage High School in Brentwood. She has a passion for climate justice and ocean conservation, and she’s so excited to take climate action. Outside of BAYCS, Luci enjoys playing water polo and swimming.
Anoushka Swaminathan is a junior at Carlmont High School and works in BAYCS’ Workshops and Newsletter teams. They are excited to contribute to impactful climate education and community action, analyzing systems of harm and people-focused solutions. They particularly care about how disability, race, and class intersect with climate justice. Outside of BAYCS, they are part of the Civic Leaders of America, Institute for Youth in Policy, DECA, and their school’s journalism program, and are a freelance writer. They can often be found with their cat, rereading Emily Henry books, rewatching Community, or dancing.
Chiara is a junior at Lowell High School, where she plays volleyball, runs track, and leads the mentoring program for incoming freshmen. She’s passionate about all things environmental science, particularly relating to climate, chemistry, and the ocean, and hopes to pursue a career in research. BAYCS provides an opportunity to connect the science of climate change with education and tangible action. In her free time, she enjoys reading the newspaper, attempting crossword puzzles, and volunteering in San Francisco’s many public parks.
Olivia is a junior at The College Preparatory School in Oakland. She is on the CPS Divestment team, working to divert endowment investments away from fossil fuels, and is a West Coast Co-Lead for hsDivestReinvest, a coalition of high school students working on the same cause. She's passionate about climate activism through policy change, and in her spare time she enjoys dancing, watching 80s movies, and making picnics with friends.
Avalon Wood is a sophomore at Latitude High School. They are passionate about all aspects of climate justice, with a particular focus on deforestation, which has impacted them personally. In addition to their activism, Avalon enjoys photography, aerial silks, and art, and they run a small jewelry business. They are so excited to help make the world a better place!
Jasmine Wang-Jethi is a freshman at Amador Valley High School and a member of the BAYCS newsletter team. She enjoys reading, writing, and crocheting in her free time. Jasmine is also an NOAA Ambassador and has previously contributed to her school’s journalism team. She competed at the national level for We the People, a civics and constitutional law program. Her love for animals and nature, sparked by her travels across Asia and experiences snorkeling, drives her interest in how climate change and environmental degradation threaten global ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.
Kaliopi Terplan is a junior at Lowell High School and a member of BAYCS’s Outreach and Partnerships team. She feels passionate about nature preservation, and is pushing for it through both volunteering and environmental policy. She also enjoys distance running, reading with her school’s book club, and competing in both Model UN and robotics.
Lucero Avalos is a sophmore at the Drew School and is part of the outreach and partnerships team in BAYCS. She's interested in deforestation and bringing a change to it. Currently, she’s focusing on bringing a Climate Justice group at her school for the future. She enjoys spending her free time playing bass, practicing taekwondo, volunteering, and with friends.
Damon Hunt is a sophmore at Berkeley High School and is a member of the newsletter and communications team. In addition to his involvement in BAYCS, he is an Earth Team Intern at BHS and is a Digital Content Artist for persistent planet. He is particularly interested in environmental law, the effects of global warming on marine life, and regenerative agriculture. Outside of his environmental engagement, he is on his school's newspaper, debate team, local Jewish Youth organization, draws, paints, cooks, and does nature photography. He is eager to spread awareness of local environmental issues and make a positive contribution with BAYCS!
Ketav Korke is a freshman at James Logan High School and a member of the Workshops team. He is the founder of his school’s climate club, which he started in seventh grade. The club has held chalk art campaigns, the planting of plants, community cleanups, and climate-focused engineering projects. Ketav is interested in Climate Policy and Psychology, sustainability solutions, biology, and how Mental Health relates to climate change. Aside from Ketav’s love for environmentalism, he enjoys playing water polo, swimming, walking his dog, exploring nature through photography, and playing the saxophone. He is also a published author and has been involved with the Alameda County science and Engineering fair with climate projects. Inspired by places like Costa Rica’s lush forests, Ketav is eager to help build a greener future and aims to help make BAYCS the best climate organization in the country. He believes that action, creativity, and a little bit of humor (and maybe a few bananas) can go a long way toward protecting the planet.
Sophia is a sophomore at Lowell High School and works with BAYCS’s Logistics and Funding team to coordinate events and secure funds to support our climate initiatives. Growing up in San Francisco, she has witnessed the local impacts of climate change on the Bay Area; from rising sea levels to worsening droughts and increasing plastic pollution. She’s especially passionate about eco-psychology, which explores how environmental conditions affects mental health. Currently, Sophia is working with the SF D3 Youth Council on a resolution urging city officials to address the city’s overflowing trash can problem, advocating for cleaner, more sustainable, and mentally supportive communities.
Jade Wen is a Junior at the Bay School of San Francisco. Climate action to her is an extension of her adoration, care, and respect for the natural world. They love sharing this sentiment with others through building awareness, and outdoor experiences. At BAYCS, Jade is part of the logistics and fundraising team, organizing and funding opportunities to spark inspiration and take action. Jade also runs the Project Super Plants club at her school, which goes out to lower and middle schools to talk about the science behind climate change and take action by planting “super plants” that sequester more CO2 than other plants. They are also a martial artist, play a Chinese harp called the Gu Zheng, and are part of their school's robotics team.
Nyla Wang is a Junior at Gunn High School and a member of the Workshops team. Nyla became interested in saving the planet ever since she was little, and her mom who works in environmentalism inspires her to learn more and teach others how to conserve. She is specifically interested in how climate change affects different demographics, and how to help these situations change. In her free time, she likes binge watching Gilmore Girls, Brooklyn 99, going shopping, and hanging out with friends.
Anvi Sharma is a junior at Mountain House High School who is passionate about protecting the environment and addressing climate change. She's always loved the environment and is a part of a family so involved with the outdoors that she got her name because it means "nature lover." But growing up, she realized that the places she grew up to appreciate were also being destroyed, and she wants to dedicate herself to protecting the natural world and giving back for all it has given her. She loves how BAYCS brings together students who share the same interests to make a difference. Anvi is especially inspired by the potential of creative, youth-led solutions to create real change, and wants to pursue environmental law and policy. In her free time, she enjoys biking, hiking, backpacking, camping, golfing, skiing, exploring nature, and taking on new creative projects.
partners
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featured
alumni
Meet the alumni of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit team!
Lick-Wilmerding High School '22
Amelia Fortgang
Amelia Fortgang is the founder and former chair of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (2020-2022). She graduated from Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco in 2022 and is now a senior at Yale University, where she studies Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. At Yale, Amelia conducts developmental biology research on siphonophores (a group of marine invertebrates), leads backpacking trips around New England for incoming first-years, and directs Yale's oldest improv comedy group, the Ex!t Players. She is excited to continue pursuing marine science research after graduation in the Spring. Amelia is grateful for the meaningful role BAYCS played in her high school experience, and she can't wait to see the places that the organization will continue to go.
(last updated December 2025)
Design Tech High School '25
Aishani Garg
Aishani Garg is the former co-chair of BAYCS (2024–2025) and previously served on the Workshops and Social Media teams. She loved collaborating with such a passionate and driven team, especially while organizing the 2024 Summit at UCSF. BAYCS became her favorite Sunday tradition and a place where she found both purpose and community. Through planning workshops, running social media, and building out new partnerships, she deepened her commitment to climate justice and youth-led activism. Aishani is attending Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Environmental Science on the pre-law track. She hopes to pursue a career in environmental law, working on cases that protect both people and the planet from environmental injustice.
Menlo Atherton High School '25
Emily Pecore
Emily Pecore is the former co-chair of BAYCS (2024–2025) and served on the Newsletter, Grants, and Workshops teams. She absolutely loved working and advocating at BAYCS and grew so much throughout her time there. Along with co-chairs Mckinley Greenberg and Aishani Garg, she led the planning of the 2024 Summit, which was centered around exploring creative solutions and finding your niche within the climate movement. Emily is currently a student at Dartmouth College studying biomedical engineering and global health. She also serves as an advisor to BAYCS.
Lincoln High School '25
McKinley Greenberg
McKinley is a former BAYCS co-chair (2024-2025). She is very passionate about climate justice and is also the vice president of her school's chapter of Youth vs. Apocalypse. From a young age she’s loved everything outdoors, from hiking through California’s forests to swimming in its beautiful oceans. She is eager to continue her time at BAYCS as it combines all of her environmental passions.
Marin Academy '24
Finn Does
Finn is a former co-chair and lead of the Newsletter, Grants, and Workshops teams. Now, he offers support as an advisor to BAYCS. Finn is an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley majoring in Political Economy. BAYCS has been the best part of Finn's life for the past 3 years. As a closeted 14 year old who didn’t know his inherent self-worth, our Sunday meetings gave Finn the space to learn how to love himself while fighting alongside his friends for the future we all deserve. Surrounded by teammates who refused to give up on both a burning planet and each other, BAYCS has done more than “given” Finn hope, it's allowed him to create hope and share it. He's leaving as a fierce, strong, and proud organizer that he never would’ve dreamed of becoming.
(last updated July 2024)
Lick-Wilmerding High School '24
Sophie Merickel
Sophie was a co-chair of BAYCS and lead of the Workshops team. She will soon attend Williams College and study Biochemistry and plans to attend medical school in the future. Leading BAYCS has been one of the most important parts of her high school experience. As a quiet and nervous 14-year-old, BAYCS created a space for Sophie to find her voice and explore her passions. As she moves towards college, Sophie is excited to continue to grow this voice. (last updated July 2024)
Heritage High School '24
Sophie Eilersen
Sophie was a co-chair of BAYCS leading the Social Media and Newsletter teams. She is an incoming freshman at UCLA studying Biology. Leading BAYCS has been the single most meaningful and passionate part of Sophie's time in high school. Working with her fellow co-chairs to put on the summit and Earth Day Festival taught her so many skills in organizing and leading, as well as gave her an outlet for climate activism. Having the opportunity to work with like-minded youth and inspire others to fight for a more just and equitable world has been a privilege, and Sophie can’t wait to see what else BAYCS accomplishes. She looks forward to continuing to push for a greener and healthier planet when she starts at UCLA in the fall.
(last updated July 2024)
Lick-Wilmerding High School '23
Natalie Heller
Natalie Heller is the former co-chair of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (2022-2023). She loved learning, growing and meeting other passionate youth and truly made lifelong friends while at BAYCS. She started her time at BAYCS on the original youth council for the virtual summit in 2020 and then soon found herself loving the team and Sunday meetings. She then worked to way up to co-chair as she led BAYCS to become a fiscal non-profit and be featured in 2 US Department of State films for international countries on climate change and resilience. Natalie is a current junior at the University of Southern California studying environmental studies. She loves to be outdoors; hike, snorkel, scuba dive, camp, and go backpacking.
(last updated December 2025)
Berkeley High School '23
Emily Lao
Emily joined BAYCS at its start in 2020, and was involved until she graduated. From being a newbie to becoming a co-chair in her last year, BAYCS has been one of her favorite experiences in high school and she’s made some of her closest friends through the team. Alongside BAYCS, she also helped lead her school’s robotics team and environmental club. Emily will be attending UC Santa Barbara next year to study computer science. She hopes to apply a future computer science degree to the field of environmental action and continue her activism in climate change through the lens of engineering.
Alameda High School '23
Alyssa Goldfield
At BAYCS, Alyssa Goldfield was a co-chair as well as a lead of the newsletter team. After joining in 2020, she continued to work with the team, meeting some of her best friends, and learning to navigate challenges with them. While at BAYCS, she helped create over 30 newsletters, organize 4 major BAYCS events, and several workshops, and spoke at 3 climate strikes. After high school, she is attending UC Davis to study Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a minor or double major in economics. She hopes to move to Washington DC and work with Congress to craft environmental legislation that may propel our country toward a healthier and brighter future. (last updated June 2023)
Lick-Wilmerding High School '23
Bruno Kai Ong
Bruno Kai Ong was a co-chair of BAYCS and led the workshops and partnerships team. He loved the team community and enjoyed organizing and hosting a variety of action-oriented events. In addition to BAYCS, Bruno served as his school’s first Environmental Chair, where he led initiatives to reduce energy usage, reduce food waste, and divest. Next fall, he’ll be attending Yale University. (last updated June 2023)
Lick-Wilmerding High School '22
Erika Tam
Erika is a former co-chair for BAYCS. will be a first-year at UC Berkeley studying Molecular Environmental Biology, hopefully with a focus in Food Studies or Environmental Economics! She plans to continue playing tennis, going on nature walks, and discovering good food in Berkeley. Recently, she has been really interested in researching sustainable capitalism and community gardens! In the fall she will be working for Forest and Flour’s farmers market bakery, so come visit, and if you have questions about Berkeley or college at all feel free to reach out! (last updated June 2022)
St. Ignatius College Preparatory School '24
Elise Priesman
Elise was a co-lead of the Workshops team on BAYCS. Elise will be a freshman at UC Berkeley majoring in Society and Environment. Her high school experience would not have been the same without BAYCS. By forming a community with like-minded peers, creating tangible change within her community, and acquiring leadership and organizational skills, Elise became more inspired and prepared to integrate environmental activism and justice into her future endeavors. Elise is continuously impressed by the diligence, innovation, and creativity of her fellow team members, and she is excited to see them continue to drive change and empower other youth within the Bay Area and beyond. (last updated July 2024)
The Nueva School '24
Naomie Chien
Naomie was a co-lead of the Workshops team and a member of the Newsletter and Grants teams. She is an incoming freshman at Stanford studying Earth Systems and Computer Science. Just last year, over 250 high schoolers gathered at the California Academy of Sciences, all with different interests and niches, and all could see themselves in relation to the ongoing climate crisis. However, the excitement Naomie felt during the summit was far from new. Every Sunday and Tuesday, she felt excitement and a sense of purpose and drive from her team members. Every monthly workshop, Naomie felt completed by the hope-driven workshops they offered. It has been an honor for Naomie to find herself through the work she does at BAYCS with all of them. This is only our beginning. (last updated July 2024)
George Washington High School '24
Vivian Deng
Vivian spent her time on BAYCS as a member of the Workshops team. She is an incoming Fiat Lux Scholar at UC Berkeley studying Society and Environment & Political Science. BAYCS has been instrumental to Vivian's growth as a student, leader, and person. From forging genuine camaraderie among the team to translating passion into action through their initiatives, her appreciation for the people there knows no bounds. Vivian leaves in awe of the friends with whom she created change and aspires to pursue similar opportunities in college in hopes of becoming a human rights attorney. (last updated July 2024)
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Alameda High School '24
Cassidy Chan
Cassidy was a member of the Workshops team. She will take a gap year in Taiwan as part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth before studying Politics & Government at Sciences Po in France and Global Studies at UC Berkeley. BAYCS has really helped cultivate Cassidy's passion for climate activism, shaping her ability to lead through event organization and outreach. Being able to reach youth at the root by instilling education on the severity of climate issues and equipping them with resources to take action through the BAYCS platform has empowered Cassidy to continue her advocacy work for the environment. She is so grateful to have been part of such a zealous yet hard-working and creative team. (last updated June 2024)
Lick-Wilmerding High School '24
Ariel Fu-Chen
Ariel was a member of the Newsletter and Workshops teams. She will study Chinese in a gap year at National Taiwan University before attending Stanford. She feels so lucky to have gotten to spend her high school years as part of BAYCS. Ariel has learned so much since being a sophomore with a vague understanding of climate change, especially about just how complex the climate crisis is — and equally importantly, how many inspiring people are out there working towards solutions. From team meetings to climate summits and conferences, BAYCS has allowed Ariel to pursue her interest in environmental issues and work together with similarly passionate people. Though she is undecided on a specific major, Ariel hopes to dive deeper into these topics in college.
(last updated June 2024)
El Camino High School '24
Jasmine Ho
Jasmine served as a co-lead of the Social Media team and a member of the Grants team. She will study Chemistry & Neuroscience at UCLA. BAYCS has been such an integral part of Jasmine's high school experience. Connecting with peers her own age about similar ambitions has introduced her to a wonderful network of both partners and friends, and Jasmine is eternally grateful for all of the opportunities BAYCS has presented her. Jasmine is excited to see what the future has in store for the BAYCS team. (last updated July 2024)
St. Ignatius College Preparatory School '24
Cece Hammond
As a part of BAYCS, Cece was on the Newsletter and Social Media teams. Cece is an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley studying Neuroscience & Cognitive Science. She's very interested in the impact of the climate crisis on adolescent mental health and the importance of climate education. As a member of the workshops and social media teams, Cece learned valuable organizational and communication skills with BAYCS. She especially appreciates the inspiring connections she formed with fellow youth advocates.
(last updated June 2024)
Piedmont High School '24
Edwin Tang
Edwin was the Website team lead and a member of the Newsletter team. Edwin will be a freshman at UC Berkeley planning to pursue Geology. BAYCS has been an impactful part of Edwin's high school experience, shaping his views on collaborative work and the climate revolution as a whole. He found it engaging to connect with peers who share an interest in helping the community thrive and educating future generations about climate education. Edwin is excited to see where BAYCS will go in the future and how it will continue to positively change communities. He is grateful to have been part of this amazing, hard-working group and looks forward to watching BAYCS grow and evolve. (last updated June 2024)
Urban School '23
Amelia Hayward
Amelia Hayward was a member of BAYCS and worked with the team to plan workshops focused on sustainable urban gardening and composting practices. She was a former senior at the Urban School of San Francisco and was part of Urban’s Green Team. Some of her favorite pastimes are backpacking, climbing, and beach walks with her dog. Through BAYCS, she learned a lot about outreach, activism, and how to use her voice in the climate crisis. Next year she will be attending Middlebury College where she plans to major in Environmental Studies and potentially minor in Geology. (last updated June 2023)
San Domenico High School '22
Oona Clark
Oona is currently a master’s student at Universität Hamburg in Germany, studying Ocean and Climate Physics. After high school, Oona graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Climate Science from Oregon State University, where they completed a thesis on how climate change is affecting PNW winter weather mentored by Dr. Philip Mote, and worked in a geochemistry lab under Dr. Alyssa Shiel studying lead pollution in Oregon. At BAYCS, Oona was one of the original team members who worked on the logistics and workshops team, working with them from their first summit in September 2020 until leaving for college in September of 2022. Oona hopes to continue their education on to completing a doctorate and pursue a career in academia, and in their free time loves to read, write, and play with their cats.
(last updated December 2025)
Jesse Bethel High School '23
Aliyah Miller
While involved with BAYCS, Aliyah was part of the workshop team, which demonstrated her dedication and leadership. Next year, she will be attending UC Santa Barbra where she will major in Computer Science.
Galileo High School '23
Lena Huang
Lena has been a member of the workshop and partnerships teams since 2020. During her time with BAYCS, she led numerous projects with partnering organizations. Next year, she will be attending UC Berkeley where she will major in Molecular Environmental Biology and minor in Environmental Science and Policy.
Alameda High School '23
Dhalia Kishnan
With BAYCS, Dhalia was a co-lead of the Social Media team. They enjoyed being part of BAYCS as they were able to discover their passion for climate justice. Next year, they will be attending UC Santa Cruz and plan to major in Environmental Studies with a minor in Music.
St. Ignatius '22
Dory Miller
Dory is an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley, where she plans to pursue Legal Studies and Society in the Environment. In addition to her wonderful experience as the Social Media Co-Lead for BAYCS, she was the president of her school’s Green Team (@sigreenteam) and the Ecological Justice chair for her school’s social justice council. She is the co-founder and co-host of a podcast called “She’s Up Next” (@shesupnextpodcast) that amplifies the voices of other activists and plans to continue recording into college in the hopes of expanding their pool of listeners. Dory is ecstatic to be attending Berkeley and gaining an even wider network of activists, but she also cannot wait to continue helping out with BAYCS when she can! (last updated June 2022)
Lowell High School '21
Christy Vong
Christy is currently a student at UC Davis pursuing a bachelor's degree in Community and Regional Development. One area of sustainability that Christy likes to work on is waste recovery and they are currently volunteering with the Food Recovery Network at UC Davis and the Davis Night Market to recover and distribute extra food to people in the community. Christy has also been engaged in a research project learning more about AAPI farmers with the Asian American Studies department and is passionate about supporting equitable food systems. (last updated June 2022)
George Washington High School '21
Mary Mangubat
After graduating high school, Mary decided to study environmental science at Humboldt State University (now California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt) with a concentration in planning and policy. She also has recently declared her minor in sustainable food systems! She spent her first year at college exploring her interests and curiosities that the field of environmental science had to offer, specifically spending her time volunteering at community farms and learning about food sovereignty. As she enters her second year of college, she's looking forward to all the exciting events she will soon be hosting as an environmental educator at Humboldt’s social justice and equity center.
(last updated June 2022)