Florida Teen’s Citrus Innovation Earns National Environmental Award

At Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Florida, student Tanishka Aglave is being celebrated on the national stage for her groundbreaking work to save Florida’s citrus industry. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named her a national winner of the President’s Environmental Youth Award, one of the highest honors for young environmental leaders.

Growing up on her family’s citrus farm, Tanishka saw firsthand the toll of Citrus Greening Disease. Her project, “Reviving Citrus, Reviving Florida,” focuses on a natural treatment made from curry leaf extract, a sustainable and eco-friendly approach showing real promise in fighting the disease.

But her impact goes far beyond the lab. Over two years, she has led a campaign planting more than 1,500 citrus trees, distributed disease management kits to growers, and even written a children’s book, “The Story of Oranges,” to teach the next generation about sustainable agriculture.

From her School Superintendent, Van Ayres, “Tanishka’s leadership and passion for protecting Florida’s environment are truly inspiring.”