FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Daniel C.
Daniel is the founder of Earth on Us, a youth-led environmental education nonprofit. Earth on Us was inspired by Daniel’s participation in the Minnesota Metropolitan Council 4-H Climate Action Project, where he worked with youth and community partners to identify regional climate action priorities, analyze community feedback, and present findings to County Commissioners and other county officials in several Twin Cities metro counties. Through that experience, he recognized a need for practical, youth-friendly environmental education that empowers students to not only take meaningful everyday actions, but also develop innovative ideas, conduct research, and create solutions to environmental challenges in their communities.
To help address this need, Daniel developed the Earth on Us Actions curriculum, which was peer-reviewed and published in the University of Minnesota Extension Youth Development Curriculum Library.
Today, Daniel works to help young people turn environmental awareness into action through education, leadership, research, and community engagement. His contributions to environmental education and youth engagement have earned recognition at the local, state, national, and international levels, including:
– Recipient, National 4-H Lead to Change Implementation Grant
– Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador
– Minnesota Delegate to the Ignite by 4-H National Leadership Conference
– Bronze Medalist, 2026 International GENIUS Olympiad (Environmental Research)
– Participant, Stanford U.S.-China Co-Lab on Climate Solutions
– Lead Presenter, Minnesota Metropolitan Council 4-H Climate Action Project
– Recipient, Minnesota State Fair Community Impact Recognition Award
Beyond Earth on Us, Daniel is the founder and president of his school’s Physics Club and a founding member and student chair of a student-led STEM Research Symposium, helping expand opportunities for students to pursue scientific inquiry, innovation, and collaboration.
STUDENT BOARD
Alabama
Mack G.
Hutchinson High School
California
Benita L.
Ventura High School
Massachusetts
Julia N.
Lexington High School
Minnesota
Vannah H.
St. James High School
Grace Z.
East Ridge High School
Missouri
Riya G.
Crossroads College Prep
Patricia H.
Gateway Stem High School
New Jersey
Erin L.
Lenape High School
New York
Lucas Z.
Blind Brook High School
Grace Z.
Blind Brook Middle School
North Carolina
Jonas P.
Ardrey Kell High School
Oregon
Amelia T.
La Salle High School
Emma W.
Redmond Proficiency Academy
South Carolina
Madysen K.
Ridge View High School
Avery K.
Latta High School
Tennessee
Chrissiya F.
Jackson Central Merry Early College High School
Texas
Akshaj T.
Rick Reedy High School
Akshara T.
Rick Reedy High School
Wisconsin
Abby W.
Edgar High School
Seamus S.
Antigo High School
ADVISORS
Leah Larson
University of Minnesota Extension
Jessica Russo
University of Minnesota Extension
Erin Cortus
University of Minnesota
Gillian Greenberg
Minnesota Metropolitan Council
Diane Brancazio
MIT Edgerton Center
Rachel Danford
Cooler Communities
KEY SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS
