Earth Day Is Every Day Virtual Panel

Sri Nihal Tammana is a high school sophomore and the founder of Recycle My Battery, a global nonprofit that has educated over 40 million people and recycled more than 600,000 batteries. Passionate about sustainability and innovation, Nihal is currently developing a prototype that extracts residual charge from used batteries to help power recycling plants. His work has inspired thousands of youth change-makers worldwide and earned him 75+ national and international awards, including CNN Heroes Young Wonder and the Diana Award. Nihal serves as a Youth Advisor for multiple organizations and regularly speaks at major conferences. He is dedicated to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world through leadership and action.

Samarah is a junior in high school who is passionate about environmental sustainability and community service. As the founder of a battery recycling initiative, they have led efforts to collect and recycle over 20,000 batteries, preventing hazardous waste from harming the environment. Their project has been recognized with multiple awards, including first place in the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition and the STEM for HER Earth Day Competition, where it was featured on WUSA9 News.

To expand the project's impact, Samarah has successfully placed Battery Recycling Boxes in three schools across Loudoun County and the UVA University Hospital, encouraging students, staff, and hospital visitors to engage in responsible recycling. Their initiative continues to grow, raising awareness about electronic waste and inspiring communities to take action.

Beyond sustainability, Samarah is a committed leader and volunteer. They serve as President of the Interact Club, co-founded Petit-Mond to support families in UVA recovery houses, and are an active member of the Loudoun Youth Advisory Council. They have also volunteered at the UVA University Hospital, assisting patients and hospital operations. With a strong commitment to leadership, service, and innovation, Samarah continues to create meaningful change in their community.

Brandon Lin is a sophomore at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California. As a sustainability activist, he actively volunteers at the nonprofit Peninsula Precious Plastics and serves as the president and founder of the Aragon Peninsula Precious Plastics Club at his school. In this role, he educates students about environmental issues and the importance of staying informed about climate change. His passion for volunteering and gaining hands-on experience led him to create The ReCap Project in 2023, which focuses on collecting clean medical plastic from medical clinics and repurposing it into useful products. To date, he has collected 1,500 pounds of plastic, equivalent to nearly 550,000 items, by partnering with thirty clinics across three health systems in the San Francisco Bay Area. Medical assistants, phlebotomists, and pharmacists have helped him gather plastic waste for recycling. Managing this conservation initiative has provided Brandon with invaluable opportunities to strengthen his leadership and communication skills while positively impacting his community. Looking ahead, he plans to expand his project further and continue learning about the threats to the environment.