Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) held its second Student Action Summit of the 2024-25 school year at Rye Country Day School on January 25. As the hosting school, Rye Country Day had the opportunity to select the summit’s focus, Arts and Innovation for an Equitable and Sustainable Future, in partnership with GEBG. 

These student-centered one-day summits are part of a regional pilot program that allows high-school student leaders to collaborate, share, and engage in dialogue around global issues of concern and share their purpose as global citizens. Summits are open to participation from all GEBG Member Schools and their partners.

Arts and Innovation for an Equitable and Sustainable Future was designed by 10 RCDS student leaders for high school students passionate about using creativity and technology to address today's most pressing social and environmental issues. The event brought together over 40 young innovators, artists, and activists from seven schools to explore the intersection of arts, technology, sustainability, and social justice. Students came to the day with initiatives that they were interested in developing and they left with an action plan that they co-developed with peers from their school and guidance from faculty mentors. 

The day began with an inspiring keynote from Kyle Wyche, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ecotone Renewables, who specializes in developing and commercializing environmental systems. Mr. Wyche is behind the development of ZEUS digesters, which collect and process food waste from organizations to create a nutrient-rich plant fertilizer. Earlier this winter, a ZEUS digester was installed at Rye Country Day through the generosity of an anonymous donor, and members of the Sustainability Committee are preparing for its official unveiling during Earth Month this April. 

The Summit also included hands-on workshops and collaborative sessions to help participants develop their practical skills, engage with experts, and work on projects aimed at fostering equity and environmental resilience. In addition, students led a number of sessions on dialogue for which they had trained with GEGB prior to the Summit. Workshop topics included:

• Automated Aerobic Composting System for Food Waste at School
• Sustainable Proposals and Climate Action in Schools
• Photocatalytic Degradation of Polyethylene Microplastics With Fe3O4@TiO2-Ag nanocomposite
• Sustainability on Campus- Earth Club: Past, Present, and Future
• Reel Moments: 30-second Reels to Promote Tolerance and Reduce Hate
• H5N1 (Bird Flu, Avian Influenza) Implications & Action for Fowl & Humanity
• Design Thinking for Sustainable Development.

“Our goal for the summit was to inspire our peers to “solve problems in the world in nontraditional ways and spread awareness about sustainability around their schools and communities,” shared the RCDS student leaders. 

Dan Murray, RCDS Director of Global Studies, and summit faculty mentor was delighted by the day. “What impressed me most was that our students led the events for the whole day, and their enthusiasm for the issues, their confidence in themselves, and their compassion for each other all grew to where no one wanted the day to end,” he said.

Director of Sustainability Kerry Linderoth, who was also a faculty mentor added, “It was incredibly inspiring to see the dedication and leadership of the RCDS students who envisioned, designed, and carried out this entire event. It was truly a summit created for students, by students–empowering young leaders to collaborate, innovate, and take meaningful action on pressing social and environmental issues.”

Congratulations to the RCDS student leaders on organizing an impactful day of collaboration and action.

RCDS Student Summit Organizers
Leo Roth ’25
Ana Petricone ’25
Shawn Wei ’26
Skyla Perez ’26
Darren Wong ’26
Michael Goneos ’27
Anika Bhat ’25
Joaquin Gonzalez ’25
Isabela Pierry ’25
Davis Clarke ’25