Congratulations to our 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Recipients!
Organization
Youth
Kailyan Perez is an inspiring 4-H member whose creativity and dedication to environmental action have made a lasting impact on her community. As a member of the 4-H Youth for Climate Action Program, she collaborated with Elise Kwon to design mini greenhouses from repurposed plastic, a hands-on project that promotes sustainability and waste reduction within the community. Kailyan is an active participant in the Rockland County 4-H Teen Leaders, where she helps guide youth programming and service initiatives, and she extends her impact statewide through her work with the New York 4-H Influencers and the Beyond Ready Strategy Team, advancing youth engagement and leadership in sustainability. Through her thoughtful leadership and dedication to community service, Kailyan embodies the values recognized by the Environmental Steward Award.
Individual
Brianna has over a decade of experience leading nonformal environmental based programs for youth and adults. Throughout her career, she has aimed to build and maintain positive relationships with others and facilitate connections between people and their environment. Brianna started at the Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District as the Conservation District Technician where she worked with volunteers to coordinate various community science programs, coordinated the road-stream crossing project, and led environmental education programs both inside and outside the classroom. In January of 2023, she was promoted to Environmental Programs Manager with the Division of Environmental Resources and became the District Manager for the Soil and Water Conservation District. She has helped expand the District’s programming by leading bird walks, creating new outdoor lessons, and coordinating the planting of pollinator gardens and meadows in County parks. She oversees three environmental volunteer boards and continues to coordinate and lead education programs for students in Rockland County.
Founded in 2019, the Nyack Pollinator Pathway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating and restoring pollinator-friendly habitats throughout the Nyacks and our regional community. Entirely volunteer-driven, the Pathway works to transform underutilized public and private spaces into thriving native gardens that support bees, butterflies, moths, birds, and other essential species. Since its founding, the organization has partnered with local residents, businesses, schools, and municipalities to establish vibrant pollinator corridors, increase ecological awareness, and encourage sustainable gardening practices. By championing initiatives such as “leave the leaves,” reducing lawn, planting native species, and avoiding pesticides, the Nyack Pollinator Pathway has become a model of grassroots conservation, proving that community-led action can make a powerful difference for biodiversity, climate resilience, and the health of our local ecosystems.
Kailyan Perez, a Teen Leader from North Rockland HS, and Elise Kwon, a Teen Leader from Tappan Zee HS, were recognized with the youth awards.
Elise Kwon is an outstanding 4-H youth leader whose initiative, integrity, and commitment to sustainability are evident in every aspect of her work. Through the 4-H Youth for Climate Action Program, she secured a Contribution Project grant and collaborated with Kailyan Perez to design mini greenhouses made from repurposed plastic, promoting waste reduction and sustainable living. Elise is an active member of the Rockland County 4-H Teen Leaders and the New York 4-H Influencers, and she served as a Focus Assistant for the New York State 4-H Career Explorations Conference, helping plan and lead statewide youth programming. A delegate to the National 4-H Conference and recipient of the 4-H Presidential Scholarship to Cornell University’s Pre-College Program, Elise exemplifies environmental stewardship, academic excellence, and youth leadership at the highest level.