From September through May 2027, Ambassadors will develop civic leadership skills and gain hands-on experience as they champion and advocate for clean and beautiful communities across Pennsylvania.
Ambassadors were named from Allegheny, Cambria, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Susquehanna, Wayne and York counties.
Now in its fifth year, the Young Ambassadors program is designed to cultivate the passion and leadership of young community stewards.
Ambassadors are provided access to essential resources, empowering them to promote and pursue a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania within their own communities.
“Across the Commonwealth, PennDOT and our partners are working diligently to prevent the long-term environmental damage caused by litter,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We’re excited to partner with our most creative and passionate young leaders to clean up Pennsylvania’s environmental future.”
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will award two $1000 scholarships: one to a current senior in the Young Ambassadors program and one to an alum of the program.
"As the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Young Ambassador Program enters its fifth year, we celebrate the outstanding young leaders who are helping build a brighter future for Pennsylvania. Their creativity, commitment, and determination to make a positive impact inspire us year after year. We are proud to champion and invest in these emerging environmental and community leaders as they work to strengthen and beautify their communities,” said Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Executive Director Shannon Reiter.
The 2026-2027 Young Ambassadors of PA are--
Brady Franklin, 11th grade, Mt. Lebanon High School, Allegheny County
Sydney Morrissey, 10th grade, PACyber, Allegheny County
Brock Wharton, 10th grade, Cambria Heights High School, Cambria County
Shannon Evans, 12th grade, Unionville High School, Chester County
Nick Michel, 11th grade, The Episcopal Academy, Chester County
Nathaniel Gushurst, 12th grade, Unionville High School, Chester County
Claire Mullen, 10th grade, Downingtown STEM Academy, Chester County
Atharv Rajesh, 11th grade, Downingtown STEM Academy, Chester County
Gian Gokul, 11th grade, Great Valley High School, Chester County
Abhinav Naregal, 10th grade, Cumberland Valley High School, Cumberland County
Ranhitha Laxmaiahgari, 11th grade, Cumberland Valley High School, Cumberland County
Tanush Vanamala, 11th grade, Cumberland Valley High School, Cumberland County
Amrutha Davuluri, 12th grade, Cumberland Valley High School, Cumberland County
Zephaniah Weaver, 11th grade, Halifax Area High School, Dauphin County
Nadia, Dougherty, 12th grade, Radnor High School, Delaware County
Ameya Singh, 11th grade, Garnet Valley High School, Delaware County
Aneesha Chennareddy, 11th grade, Garnet Valley High School, Delaware County
Barrett Slye, 10th grade, Malvern Prep, Delaware County
K. Gabler, 12th grade, Saint Marys Area High School, Elk County
Lilly Bernstein, 10th grade, Fairview High School, Erie County
Nyakia Dit, 12th grade, William Allen, Lehigh County
Saraih Garcia, 12th grade, Reach Cyber Charter School, Luzerne County
Brooke Serfass, 11th grade, Pleasant Valley High School, Monroe County
Srijani Saha, 12th grade, North Penn High School, Montgomery County
Ari Goldin, 10th grade, Abington Senior High School, Montgomery County
YuMi Murphy, 10th grade, Abington Senior High School, Montgomery County
Sayna Shah, 10th grade, William Penn Charter School, Montgomery County
JoEllen Jones, 12th grade, Forest City Regional High School, Susquehanna County
Eliana Lothian, 11th grade, Honesdale High School, Wayne County
Emeline Strautin, 10th grade, Central York High School, York County
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide education and training to program participants on topics related to the impacts of litter, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing.
Ambassadors will have an opportunity to apply for job shadowing with Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania funded by the NiSource Charitable Foundation and Dow.
Selected students will spend the day in the field with sustainability professionals. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide a stipend to participants to support time and travel expenses.
For more information about the program and the Young Ambassadors, visit the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania webpage or contact Kylie McCutcheon at kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org.
PennDOT provides many additional litter cleanup volunteer opportunities, including Adopt-A-Highway, Sponsor-A-Highway and more.
Learn more on the PennDOT Roadside Beautification webpage.
Click Here for the PennDOT - KPB announcement.
Upcoming Event
-- October 14-15: Keep PA Beautiful Annual Conference In Reading
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.
[Posted: August 31, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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