TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Public Schools announced the winner of the President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) on Tuesday, Tanishka Aglave, a student from Strawberry Crest High School.
This prestigious honor, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by youth across the country.
Tanishka’s award-winning initiative, “Reviving Citrus, Reviving Florida,” addresses the devastating impact of citrus greening disease on Florida’s citrus industry.
Drawing inspiration from her childhood and growing up on a citrus farm, Tanishka witnessed firsthand the decline in citrus production. This, in turn, inspired her to take action.
Through extensive lab research and field trials, Tanishka developed a sustainable and eco-friendly treatment that uses curry leaf extract, which acts as a biological bactericide and yields promising results.
Over the past two years, the young innovator has led statewide campaigns that involved planting more than 1,500 citrus trees, distributing disease management kits to farmers, and conducting educational workshops.
“We are incredibly proud of Tanishka for earning the President’s Environmental Youth Award,” said Van Ayres, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. “Tanishka’s leadership and passion for protecting Florida’s environment are truly inspiring, and she represents the very best of our district.”
Tanishka’s tireless work exemplifies the power of youth-led environmental action and aims to preserve Florida’s agricultural heritage in a way that can hopefully serve as a model for sustainable farming on a global scale.
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