Who We Are
The mission of the National High School Climate Forum (NHSCF) is to foster an exchange of ideas between high school student environmental leaders from across the country, in addition to educating students from our member schools about climate change and related topics. Today, the NHSCF involves 136 schools from 36 states, split into 4 regions.
What We Offer
Since our founding in September 2020, the NHSCF has approached our mission through three means: 1) Monthly newsletters to promote specific initiatives at our member schools, 2) Speaker Events, contributing to education on a host of environmental topics, and 3) the NHSCF Annual Youth Summit, which concludes each year.
Monthly Newsletters
We publish newsletters most months of the school year, consisting of sustainability tips, interesting resources about current events in climate change, information about environmental program opportunities for high school students, and, of course, highlighted articles about initiatives taking place at our member schools. We strive to distribute newsletters that will benefit our member schools advance their own projects.
Speaker Events
Each Fall and Winter, we host themed speaker events, in order to fulfill our mission to educate students at our member schools on climate change, sustainability, and related topics. Past speaker events have been focused on wildfires, sustainability on college campuses, the impact of climate change natural disasters, and the power of AI in shaping the future of conservation and climate strategies. Through these events, we have hosted top climate researchers and leaders at NOAA, IBM, Microsoft, the U.S. Forest Service, Princeton University, Bates College, and more.
Annual Summit
Each Spring, the NHSCF hosts our annual Youth Summit, the culminating and final event of the school year, in which students from our member schools have the opportunity to present on their work. In addition to our student presenters, we have hosted top leaders from General Motors, Conservation International, First Solar, eocAmerica, and the World Wildlife Fund at our 2021 and 2022 Summits. Our 2022 summit also featured opening remarks from U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D - NJ), in addition to presentations by student representatives from sustainability groups at Yale, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Our Team
NHSCF 2022-2023 Executive Leadership Team
Alex Noviello
Co-Founder & Co-President
The Lawrenceville School, NJ
Alex co-founded the NHSCF in 2020 and has served as a Co-President ever since. He enjoys playing soccer, lacrosse, and programming, when he's not doing environmental work.
Andrew Noviello
Co-Founder & Co-President
The Lawrenceville School, NJ
Andrew Noviello co-founded the NHSCF in the fall of 2020 and has since served as one of its presidents. He also enjoys programming, playing lacrosse, and performing on the cello.
Elise Picard
Co-President & Senior Advisor
Indian Springs School, AL
Elise co-founded the Sustainability Club at her school and began working with the NHSCF in 2020. In her free time, she enjoys competing in track & cross country, graphic design, and participating in local political activism.
Chiara Melchor
President, Sustainability
The Quarry Lane School, CA
Chiara is a Senior this year and helped Quarry Lane to win the NHSCF's 2021-2022 Sustainability Competition, through the completion of numerous campus projects.
Lily McGraw
President, Sustainability
The Quarry Lane School, CA
Lily is a Senior this year and helped Quarry Lane to win the NHSCF's 2021-2022 Sustainability Competition, through the completion of numerous campus projects.
Vir Goel
President, Sustainability
The Quarry Lane School, CA
Vir is a Senior this year and helped Quarry Lane to win the NHSCF's 2021-2022 Sustainability Competition, through the completion of numerous campus projects.
Emily Ma
President, Social Media & Outreach
North Cedar Academy, WI
Emily has been involved as a delegate with the NHSCF since the start of spring 2022. She is aiming to major in environmental science and is also very passionate about volleyball, tennis, and visual arts.
Abigail Stark
President, Northeast Region
Derryfield School, NH
During school hours Abby is also the leader of her school's Green Club, and a member of the Cross Country, and Tennis Team. But while she is not running around, you can find her throwing herself into any type of art project.
Rosa Sabel
President, South Region
Indian Springs School, AL
Rosa joined as a delegate of the NHSCF in 2020, and has since held positions on the recruiting committee and planning committees. She enjoys spending her free time cooking unpredictable meals and dragging her dog along on much needed walks.
Audrey Tomlin
President, West Region
Polytechnic School, CA
Audrey is currently a junior living in Los Angeles, California. In her freetime she enjoys running cross country, reading fiction books, and baking cookies.
Aana Shenai
President, Midwest Region
Seven Hills School, OH
Aana joined the NHSCF in April of 2022 as a delegate and also works with environmental organizations like ACE, Sierra Club, and OY4C. When she's not working or at school she loves to thrift, play volleyball or read a new book.
Sophia Zhou
Technical Advisor
Princeton Day School, NJ
Sophia is a sophomore at Princeton Day School. She is passionate about the environment, and also enjoys playing soccer, piano, and coding. In her free time, she likes to go to the woodshop or run.
Michelle Xu
Political Advisor
Princeton Day School, NJ
Michelle Xu is currently a sophomore at Princeton Day School, New Jersey. She became involved in climate-change activism shortly after joining her school’s environmental club, and is now very passionate about this topic, especially the political aspects of this issue. In her free time, Michelle enjoys playing tennis, creative writing, reading, and practicing the piano.