Emiliano is from Westchester, New York, and is a first-year student at Brown University, intending to concentrate in International and Public Affairs and/or Political Science and Government. He has a passion for gardening, swimming, and music, playing the violin, guitarrón, and singing.
Emiliano has been involved with various civic and environmental organizations, including Heirs To Our Ocean, Our Climate, Citizen University, Generation Citizen, and the Westchester County Youth Councils. He has worked on several service initiatives, such as developing a plan to implement a student board member on his city’s local school board, hosting a gun violence prevention series at his local library, and organizing the first-ever Música Y Mole Festival with the high school Mariachi Juvenil Los Tigres. This festival brought together community organizations, musical ensembles, restaurants, and vendors to enjoy an afternoon of music, food, and fun.
Additionally, Emiliano has participated in the U.S. Youth Action Council’s Hill Days for the past two years, advocating for bills that support the UN Ocean Decade Vision 2030. He is excited to continue volunteering with Heirs To Our Ocean and advocating for our one-water system.
Priyanka Cingirikonda is a senior at Creekside High School in Saint Johns, Florida, aspiring to pursue atmospheric science/meteorology or astrophysics in college while continuing her climate activism. She has been passionate about space, weather, and climate from a young age, recognizing the growing threats of climate change, such as warming oceans, hot summers, and rising sea levels. H2OO has provided her a platform to voice her concerns and advocate for climate action.
In her first year with H2OO, Priyanka served as a 4th Cohort Policy Working Group Committee Member of the U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade, enhancing her public speaking and networking skills. She is currently a research assistant at the University of North Florida, studying rapid rotating stars in binary systems and soon starting a project on tropical systems and climate change. Priyanka shadows 2024 AMS Meteorologist of the Year Mike Buresh and is a Cohort 2 Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador for NOAA, actively promoting ocean literacy, conservation, and climate justice.
Outside of academics and activism, Priyanka enjoys dancing, singing, jewelry making, listening to music, beach walks, and exploring new foods.
Ahmed Eldeeb is an 18-year-old Egyptian-American activist, climate researcher, and author dedicated to merging health and sustainable research in the face of the climate crisis. He is a student at Harvard University and is working on environmental policy.
He’s served on the 4th Cohort of the U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade, as a member of the Education Working Group Committee and the Communications Team.
Ahmed authored Laila’s Toolbox, a book that not only entertains but enlightens young readers about the profound impact of the climate crisis on human health. Through it, he encourages them to understand their pivotal role in forging a sustainable future. The book is available in major retailers such as Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million: all proceeds go toward climate relief in Chad.
Beyond his roles as a local youth organizer for Fridays for Future and co-founder of the Florida chapter for FXB, Ahmed underscores the value of climate research as a catalyst for transformation. His work with NASA on sea ice extent and a microplastic cleanup prototype has earned recognition from the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, USAID, and AGU. Ahmed’s passion is clear: forge a sustainable, equitable world filled with promise.
Zoë grew up in Vancouver, BC, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral, unceded (stolen) territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), and S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō Nation) as a child of immigrants/settlers. She is part of the gayby boom generation and has two moms. Zoë studied Biology and Environmental Studies at a public liberal arts college in Northern New Jersey on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Munsee Lenape and Mohican Peoples. There, she found a love for community organizing and activism for an equitable transition towards sustainable practices and policies that ensure healthy and resilient communities under changing environmental-humanitarian-climate crisis conditions. As a dual Canada-U.S. citizen, she resides part-time in Vancouver and part-time on the Kitsap Peninsula, the traditional and ancestral territory of the suq̀ʷabš (Suquamish Tribe) in Washington state.
For the past two years, Zoë has served as a member of H2OO’s U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade and is excited to have joined the H2OO helm as an intern in May 2024. Zoë has passions for eco-justice, our ocean and waterways, and native landscaping. She is most at peace when she is by our ocean, recognizing that it is the lifeblood of our planet.
Armon Alex is a distinguished Environmental Science Communicator and Ocean Policy Steward with nearly a decade of experience in global environmental non-profits. As Vice-Chair of the City of Corpus Christi’s Mayor’s Environmental Task Force and a key member of Climate Advocates Voces Unidas (CAVU) Board of Directors, Armon possesses influence both locally and internationally. Armon is the Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director of the Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit, uniting young professionals, students, scientists, stakeholders, and public officials to address the Gulf of Mexico’s critical environmental challenges. This youth program, now under the direction of the Gulf Reach Institute, is deeply committed to environmental stewardship, climate action, and Gulf coastline preservation.
His journey started with hands-on water quality testing and evolved into a dynamic career in science-based community outreach and advocacy. Armon is resolutely committed to environmental justice, recognizing the critical role his community plays on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In his spare time, Armon mentors fellow young environmentalists, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to be effective science communicators. His collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication exemplify a vision for a sustainable, diverse, and a just world, where young leaders drive critical climate actions and pave the way for a greener tomorrow.
Cambria has been with H2OO since the beginning, when she was 12 years old, furthering the mission and cultivating H2OO into what it is today.
Having grown up in a small town on the Northern California coast, Cambria developed a profound love for, and connection to, nature. Seeing the impacts of single-use plastics on ecosystems and communities globally, Cambria’s advocacy work focused on researching plastic pollution and raising awareness through award-winning artivism, both visual art and film, as well as speaking at events around the world.
She is committed to fostering a community of global youth who are connected to our shared natural environment and each other and who have access to the development of skills to advocate for justice for themselves and their communities.
Now a student at Whitman College, Cambria prioritizes climate action on campus and continues to raise awareness regarding the reliance the single-use plastics industry has on fossil fuels.
Julia is a young marine conservationist and researcher from Indonesia. She acquired her bachelor degree in marine science at University of Papua and a master candidate of Ecology and conservation Biology at Texas A&M University.
Julia is also founder and CEO of the youth based organization of OurConservaSea, which is active in contributing hands on deck on the habitat degradations and ocean pollution issues. Over the past four years she and her team, along with other partners in local, national, and international level has managed to work on several exciting projects that aims to invites the participation of the wider community to be involved in marine conservation efforts.
Julia is also very passionate about marine ecology, marine habitats, oceans pollutions, ecotourism, community involvement, actions, self development, and leadership.
Julia’s LinkedIn
In 2017, Chloe McKenna started her journey as a youth ocean advocate when she founded the Heirs To Our Ocean Orange County, California Chapter. She has been involved in various H2OO programs over the years, including SEAL and RAISE. From 2020-2022, Chloe served as the Co-Chair for the 1st and 2nd Cohorts of the US Youth Advisory Council for the UN Ocean Decade. Her experiences with H2OO starting at just 15 years old drive her continued advocacy for meaningful youth inclusion in ocean governance spaces.
Chloe is currently a student in the Marine Systems and Policies MSc Program at the University of Edinburgh. Her Master’s thesis is focused on the socio-ecological and cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution on Scottish island communities. In 2023, Chloe graduated from Eckerd College with a BA in Environmental Studies and a BA in Animal Studies.
As an Education Consultant with the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, Chloe works directly with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Inspired by her work with H2OO, she co-founded the NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program in 2023 to support young ocean leaders with skill- and leadership-development opportunities.
Chloe’s LinkedIn
“I consider people who care about environmental problems to be heroes of the earth, regardless of their backgrounds. The SEAL website outlines the challenges we face in addressing environmental issues, which inspired me to apply to the SEAL program.
I believe the SEAL Youth Summit offers significant benefits for the younger generation, including opportunities to network, learn from experts, and develop leadership, resilience, and teamwork skills. It also provides insights into global issues and inspires participants to take action in their communities.
My goal is to have a positive impact on society by sharing useful information and encouraging meaningful conversations. I plan to use the knowledge and skills gained at SEAL to support individuals and communities in their growth, focusing on leadership, problem-solving, and resilience to address societal challenges and drive positive change.”
“The specific challenge I want to address after SEAL is the lack of awareness about the importance of nature and biodiversity conservation, especially among the younger generation in my home country, Indonesia, and around the world.
Indonesia boasts extraordinary natural wealth, but it is often threatened by uncontrolled development, habitat destruction, and climate change.
My motivation to attend SEAL comes from a desire to face new challenges and test my abilities in the outdoors. Engaging in nature activities provides opportunities to learn about ecology, biodiversity, and local culture. By working in a team, I can develop essential communication, leadership, and collaboration skills that are crucial for success in various situations.”
“I recently learned about this program and believe it offers a fantastic opportunity to acquire new and valuable skills while meeting interesting people.
This program can provide me with a fresh perspective on society and the oceans. This is crucial for me because it’s not just about the new connections I would make, but also the valuable advice that can shape my future decisions.
I aim to develop solutions for water shortages and management in my hometown.”
“I was inspired to apply to this program because, in Cameroon, there are very few young people with experience in environmental protection, making it difficult to create a significant impact.
I believe SEAL will provide me with the training and resources needed to make a real difference in environmental protection in my country. This program will equip me with the skills to support the indigenous peoples of Cameroon in preserving their culture and heritage.
I am confident that, by the end of this training, I will be able to engage a large number of young people in Cameroon in environmental protection efforts. Together, we can start a movement to preserve our planet, beginning in our own country and eventually expanding our efforts worldwide.”