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Maya Faulstich, a Yarmouth High School Freshman, Recognized as Finalist in National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Maya Faulstich, a 15-year-old freshman at Yarmouth High School, is one of 15 finalists for the Global Slingshot Challenge initiated by National Geographic and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. With over 1,800 submissions from 80 countries, the competition aimed to tackle environmental issues. Maya, a member of Yarmouth’s environmental action club, came up with the idea of “Dishes on Demand.” The program replaces plastic dishes with reusable ones at sports team dinners and has saved 1,500 plastic dishes from ending up in the trash. Maya’s program caught the attention of the Slingshot Challenge judges, and she feels elated about the recognition.
Maya’s Environmental Passion
Maya credits her parents, who fostered her passion for environmentalism early in her life. Her father, Paul, is thrilled to see his daughter recognized for her dedication to environmental causes. For Maya, the recognition also offers the chance to inspire others in their own communities to create change.
Youth Taking a Stand
Lima Gomez from National Geographic served as a judge for the competition and was excited by the entries’ quality. Gomez feels that young people have a unique ability to contribute to and create innovative solutions for complex problems. She identified these solutions as coming from the participants’ local contexts and communities.
Rewards for Maya’s Success
The five overall winners of the competition will be announced in June, and each winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000. The other finalists will get $1,000 each. There is also a public choice award, and voting is open until April 28.
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