Champion of the Environment Scholarship Winners: Where are they now?
Every year, Divert NS awards grade 12 students who exemplify dedication in protecting our environment in Nova Scotia with the Champion of the Environment Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes students who are passionate about the environment and have taken action in their community or school towards environmental or sustainable change or awareness. Since 2017, Divert NS has awarded 55 students in Nova Scotia who are environmental champions. Recently, we caught up with two of our past Champion of the Environment Scholarship winners to check out where they are today.
Sarah Campbell, Regional winner in 2019
Sarah Campbell was one of the winners of the Champion of the Environment Scholarship in 2019. She stood out with her dedication to leading her high school environmental committee, creating the Mug2Go program. The program gives students the option to use reuseable mugs on their Mug Rack, which the students built themselves to reduce the usage of disposable cups. Mug2Go still runs in her high school today, 6 years later!
Sarah’s approach to encouraging environmental changes in high school has evolved into leading by example through her personal lifestyle choices, like prioritizing shopping local, purchasing her clothes second hand, and looking into more green career options within her field. We asked Sarah what it meant to her receiving the Champion of the Environment Scholarship, “The scholarship gave me the financial freedom to focus fully on my education, without worrying about money. More than anything, receiving the scholarship boosted my confidence. It reassured me that my efforts were being recognized, and that validation encouraged me to push myself even further and never take for granted the opportunities I was given.”
Carmen Peng, Regional winner in 2023
Carmen Peng was one of the winners of the Champion of the Environment Scholarship in 2023. She was an inaugural ambassador for Canada Learning Code, where she promoted STEM to girls in her community by offering free coding workshops. Carmen also created her own foundation, Waves of Change, holding conferences to raise awareness on climate action and youth mobilization. Carmen was also her school's Environment Club President, organizing weekly meetings, leading various climate awareness campaigns in her region.
The scholarship allowed Carmen to expand her leadership roles at university and within her community. As her university’s Sustainability Councilor, she’s continued to advocate for social justice through volunteering initiatives and facilitating workshops on climate action for youth of all ages. When we asked Carmen what it meant to her receiving the Champion of the Environment Scholarship, she replied, “The scholarship allows me to focus on my studies and volunteering. It motivates me to do my best and give back to my community, and has also shaped my attitude toward studying, volunteering and balancing my life. Thank you, Divert NS!”
The 2025 Champion of the Environment Scholarship applications are open until May 4, 2025. If you or someone you know is a grade 12 student who has exemplified dedication in protecting the environment, encourage them to apply. Learn more by visiting, www.divertns.ca/champion-environment-scholarship
