One of the biggest local environmental advocates is senior Jillian Rizzitano. Since elementary school, she has been a prominent student leader for all things green, and her projects and accomplishments have only expanded since.

Most students know Rizzitano best for her local projects, including Single Stream Recycling and the Algonquin garden. However, Rizzitano has received many awards and recognitions, including a trip to the Champions for Change event, a White House environmental conference this winter.

Rizzitano has been interested in the outdoors from early childhood, but first began reading and researching issues in fifth grade.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is a huge problem, we have to do something!’” Rizzitano said.

Upon entering Trottier Middle School, Rizzitano saw an opportunity and created the Trottier Environmental Club. In seventh grade, Rizzitano joined the Green Schools Leadership Council, a nonprofit created to promote student involvement with the environment.

“The Trottier Environmental Club – called Save the Earth Environmental Club – was really my starting point in terms of joining Green Schools and activism,” Rizzitano said.

While transitioning to high school, Rizzitano was never deterred from their environmental activism. Even at freshman orientation, she was still thinking of ideas.

“I saw a guy picking up trash and putting it in a waste basket,” Rizzitano said. “And I said to him, ‘I wish this school had single stream recycling.’ Turns out, that guy was Mr. D!”

More recently, Rizzitano attended an environmental conference for student leaders at the White House. She had the opportunity to talk with Representative Jim  McGovern, the legislator for the district that includes Northborough and Southborough.

“He wants to come visit Algonquin and see the garden,” Rizzitano said.

Despite their own enthusiasm, Rizzitano knows that not all their fellow students are as passionate about the environment. However, Rizzitano believes that everyone can do their own part.

“We’re all part of the earth, and what we do to nature affects ourselves,” Rizzitano said.