LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - s4story -- Named in honor of a former executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) and a true champion of environmental education, the Lynn Cobb Student of the Year award celebrates the achievements of an environmental steward between sixth and twelfth grade. At its June 4 Citizen Advisory Board Meeting, hosted at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful – a KGBF affiliate – presented the award to Sophia Yuan, a rising senior at Parkview High School. Yuan was chosen for this award for the global impact she is already making through youth-driven environmental leadership.

Closer to home, Yuan contributes her energy and ideas through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's Green Youth Advisory Council, where she is helping launch a garden at Camp Creek Elementary School. She also represented Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful at 2025 Climate Week in New York City, sharing insights on sustainable packaging and youth-led environmental solutions. Most notably, Yuan founded Clean Choices Together, a youth-led nonprofit that helps small businesses transition away from plastic packaging through sustainable materials, data-driven tools, and storytelling.  What began with her own small jewelry business has grown into an international network of more than 400 members, 150 volunteers, and 12 student directors spanning 30 states and 19 countries, helping 81 businesses reduce plastic waste and reach more than 239,000 shoppers. In addition to her service on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Green Youth Advisory Council and her work with Clean Choices Together, Yuan also serves on the councils for several other organizations. Included among them are the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA, the Plant-for-the-Planet Global Ambassador Council, and Project Green School's National Youth Council, where she collaborates with youth leaders and shares environmental resources with thousands of students.

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"Sophia was unable to make it to the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation environmental awards conference in Savannah in May, so they allowed us the honor of presenting the award to her," said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. "As a member of our Green Youth Advisory Council, we could already see the amazing promise Sophia holds as both an environmental advocate and steward. With this award, now the world can begin to see it, too! We can hardly wait to see what she has in store for the environmental movement and this planet we all share!"

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation agreed with Marlatt's assessment, stating that Yuan's vision, leadership, and commitment show how one student can inspire both local action and global change.

To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its mission of "Connecting People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett," please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.

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