Photo of Noori Choudhary, PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful 2024-2025 Young Ambassador.

Tiffany Truong ‘27

REPORTER

Environmental concerns have become a significant focus in everyday life and student leaders are stepping up to address these challenges. Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, an organization dedicated to keeping Pennsylvania clean, name Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania through a competitive application process. This program focuses on strengthening students’ leadership skills and empowering them to create healthier, more sustainable communities. Once the ambassadors are chosen, they commit to nine months of service, contributing to communities across Pennsylvania. Recently, junior Noori Choudhary was selected to be a 2024-25 Young Ambassador for the Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Choudhary was introduced to the program while working on a campaign with Pennsylvania Representative Christina Sappey. The ambassador application process involved an evaluation of the applicant’s volunteer work and contributions to the community. “It’s for anybody who has interest in environmental concerns and has a large amount of community service,” said Choudhary. At first, Choudhary was not aware that this program was highly selective. She was pleasantly surprised when she realized she had been awarded a great honor.

Choudhary focused her application on her influence on the environment in the Chester County community, including a project at Brinton Run Preserve in Chadds Ford, where she helped plant around 500 trees. “Expanding that [Brinton Run Preserve project] would be something that I would look into for this program, but also just branching out from the tree plantings and doing something different,” said Choudhary.

There are various benefits linked to this organization, notably its connections. Their ambassadors earn opportunities to communicate with many public service officials. New ambassadors are named every year, and Choudhary intends to reapply next year. As she said, “I like what the program is doing for high school students, so I think I would apply again.” Choudhary encourages any interested students to apply, even if they do not believe that they will be accepted.

Choudhary believes it is important for young people to get involved. “We have a new generation of people coming into public service and the community,” she said, emphasizing the role of youth in addressing environmental challenges. In regards to the program, she said “It’s a great opportunity to get more involved, so you should try it and see what happens. It helps you develop as a person, but it’s also good for the community.”