Rye Country Day Seniors Miles Dinger ’26, Keaton Greenberg ’26, and  Caden Powers ’26 were named recipients of the Rye Sustainability Foundation Youth Leadership Award for their efforts in proposing the regulation and reduction of nitrogen in fertilizers in the City of Rye. 

Miles, Keaton, and Caden began their advocacy work for this change in January 2025, as part of their AP Biology research where they discovered 81% of nitrogen pollution in Milton Harbor comes from fertilizer runoff. Over the spring and summer of 2025, the students worked in partnership with the Rye Sustainability Committee to draft a proposal that outlined practical guidelines for fertilizer composition and application rates to help protect local waterways and ecosystems. In September, Miles, Keaton, and Caden presented their proposal at the city council meeting.

Miles, Keaton, and Caden look forward to their proposal being put into action in the city and Westchester County. The students have also recruited rising seniors interested in the project to continue supporting their advocacy work at RCDS and in the community as they go onto college. 

Congratulations Miles, Keaton, and Caden!