Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Young Ambassadors Program was recognized with a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence is an annual award presented to any Pennsylvania business, farm, government agency, educational institution, non-profit organization or individual that has created, or participated in, the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship in Pennsylvania.

The Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program is offered in partnership with Department of Transportation and builds community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging, and empowering young Pennsylvanians to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.

The program provides opportunities for high school students to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Board and staff to increase leadership and problem-solving skills and promote professional development while preparing them to continue to make differences in their communities and beyond.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful provides education and training to program participants on such topics related to the impact of litter on roadways, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing. 

Throughout the year, the students must attend six mandatory virtual education sessions, conduct a community assessment and organize a cleanup and an education event.

The Young Ambassadors program was recommended in the Commonwealth's Litter Action Plan announced by the Governor's Office in November 2021 and is funded by the Department of Transportation. 

“We are honored to accept the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in recognition of our Young Ambassadors program. Working with the youth of Pennsylvania through our program has been satisfying and enlightening. Each student brings their own experiences and aspirations that have helped shape the program over the past three years. We know the students of today hold the key to a sustainable future and we’re excited to be able to provide guidance for the next generation to implement change in their communities and the Commonwealth. We’re grateful to continue to partner with PennDOT to provide even more opportunities for students to develop necessary skills for them to succeed,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Apply Now For Program

Each year 30 to 40 students are accepted into the program. Applications are currently being accepted until June 10, 2024 for students who will be in grades 10-12 during the 2024-2025 school year.

Click Here to learn more and to apply.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

The 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative runs through May 31!  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

(Photo: Natasha Fackler, Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, PennDOT and KPB Board Member, Kylie McCutcheon, Young Ambassador Coordinator, KPB, Brady McNamara, 2023 Young Ambassador Program graduate, Shannon Reiter, President, KPB, Andrew Tubbs, VP of External and Customer Affairs, Columbia Gas of PA and Maryland and KPB Board Member attended the awards recognition dinner.)

Resource Links - Governor’s Award Winners:

-- Gov. Shapiro Honors 22 Projects With Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Glass Recycling Program Honored With Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence [PaEN]

-- US Steel Battery-Powered Locomotives Receives Governor’s Award For Environmental Excellence

Special Link:

-- We’re Heard This Before: ‘We’re Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs’ - A Brief Review Of Pennsylvania’s Conservation History  [PaEN]

[Posted: May 6, 2024]

5/13/2024