Ridhaan Palkar

Ridhaan Palkar is a rising sophomore at Sammamish High School whose passion for sustainability and medicine grew from serving others. Repurposing wedding flowers for senior living communities to growing more than 40 pounds of organic produce through his nonprofit, Beneficent Blossoms, showed him how small acts of kindness can lift someone's well-being, and led him to ask how healthier environments improve life for everyone.

At school, he has coordinated the Carbon Commute Count, rallying students to help reduce the 225 tons (450,000 lbs) of carbon emissions his school produces each year. So far, he has also created educational content for the “Meds! Nope, Not Flushable” campaign, raising awareness of how improper medication disposal harms waterways and public health.

As an aspiring Eagle Scout, he led a furniture drive with his troop collecting and refurbishing 19 furniture items for underserved families that include a Seattle family emerging from homelessness, a domestic violence survivor, and a recently arrived refugee family who have settled in Washington State. His initiative has diverted 800 lbs of furniture, cutting an estimated 585 kg of CO2, and keeping $6,000 of goods in use. Through Sustainability Ambassadors, Ridhaan hopes to make a meaningful difference by contributing to environmental sustainability, medicine, and community well-being.