Student Leaders

Cupertino Team co-leads

 
 

Eric Zhang is a senior at The Harker School and co-lead of the Cupertino action team. He joined SVYCA to delve into the policy side of climate advocacy, helping make impacts on larger city scales alongside an amazing community of passionate youth. At school, Eric leads the environmental club, and he’s constantly tying his love of physics together with environmentalism. He’s also an absolute foodie motivated by cute cafes and enjoys Latin and running track!

ERic Zhang

Clarabelle is a part of Cupertino High School’s class of 2025. She joined SVYCA in the summer of 2022 and is part of the Cupertino team. She is also part of the Youth Environmental Power Initiative and founded Tino Eco. In her free time she enjoys crocheting and scrapbooking. (clarabelle.wangruiting@gmail.com)

Clarabelle Wang

 

Purva Marfatia

 

San Jose team co-leads

 

Mani Bekele is a homeschooled freshman in highschool and a co-lead of the San Jose Youth Climate Action Team. He has always been aware of and passionate about climate action, but got more involved after working with his older sister to give climate literacy presentations to students at their former elementary school. He joined the San Jose Team after attending SVYCA’s 2022 Youth Leadership Summit and has been an active member since, with a particular interest in nature-based and food systems solutions like wildland conservation, community food forests and regenerative agriculture. In his free time, he loves vegetable gardening, vegan cooking, hiking with family, and playing board games, especially chess. (manimandm0@gmail.com)

Mani Bekele

Daphne is a junior at Lynbrook High School and a co-lead of the San Jose Youth Climate Action team. Her love of nature since childhood has developed into a passion for environmental preservation, and she hopes that many others will join the global community working to protect our common home. She joined SVYCA to empower herself and other youth to fight for tangible, impactful change. Ever since, she has loved the dedicated and supportive network of fellow advocates that the organization has given her. She is also an officer of her school’s environmental club, site lead in the FUHSD Climate Collective, and Vice Chair of the Valley Water Youth Commission. In her free time, she enjoys going to rhythmic gymnastics practice, hiking, playing clarinet, or reading a new fantasy series.

Daphne Zhu

Simran Karkhanis

Diya Prasanth

 
 

Sunnyvale Action Team co-leads

 

SUFee Kathane

Katherine is a sophomore at Fremont High School and a co-lead of the state advocacy team. She is dedicated towards fighting climate change and its effects, and is interested in environmental conservation and remediation. In her free time, she enjoys reading and petting cats. 

(kathanpark@gmail.com)

Katherine Park

 
 
 

Morgan hill/Gilroy team co-leads

 

Makayla Brinquis

Diya Chauhan

 
 

Santa Clara County team co-leads

 

Nandana is a sophomore at Santa Clara High School and a co-lead of the Santa Clara City Team. As an advocate for environmental issues, she is committed to mitigating the effects of climate change through spreading awareness. She is also involved in spreading environmental awareness through educating young minds. Driven by a passion to address food insecurity caused by climate change, she is dedicated to finding technological solutions to this critical global challenge. She is currently the co-president of her school’s environmental club. Nandana enjoys playing the violin and drawing. You can also find Nandana volunteering at nature preserves in her free time. (nandanamahesk@gmail.com)

Nandana Maheskumar

Abhi Manickavasagan

 
 

San Mateo County team co-leads

 

Audra Loh is a junior at The Nueva School and Co-Lead of San Mateo Youth Climate Action. She is passionate about advancing  climate solutions, from clean energy initiatives to sustainable policy advocacy, and wants to  empower communities to take action against the climate crisis. (audloh@nuevaschool.org)

Audra Loh

Anjuli Mishra is a junior at The Nueva School, leader of the San Mateo County Advocacy Team since Summer of 2022, and currently serves on the San Mateo County Youth Commission. Anjuli is passionate about creating a more sustainable future.(anjuli.mishra2025@gmail.com)

Anjuli MIshra

Jayden Wan is a senior at Burlingame High School, and Co-Lead of San Mateo Youth Climate Action. Hoping to pursue a career in urban studies and sustainability, he's often searching for new ways to further his skills as both an advocate for the environment and as a designer. (jdenwan@gmail.com)

Jayden Wan

 
 

State Advocacy team Co-leads

 

Neha is a current junior at Saratoga high school and a co-lead of the state advocacy team. She is a passionate dedicated member advocating for change in legislation and environmental bills. Still learning and exploring more about the environment she has dedicated time to give public comments and write letters. In her free time she likes to bake and draw. 

Neha Tadikamalla

Katherine is a sophomore at Fremont High School and a co-lead of the state advocacy team. She is dedicated towards fighting climate change and its effects, and is interested in environmental conservation and remediation. In her free time, she enjoys reading and petting cats. 

(kathanpark@gmail.com)

Katherine Park

 
 

Nature-Based Solutions Team Co-Leads

 
 

Anjuli Mishra is a junior at The Nueva School, leader of the San Mateo County Advocacy Team since Summer of 2022, and currently serves on the San Mateo County Youth Commission. Anjuli is passionate about creating a more sustainable future.(anjuli.mishra2025@gmail.com)

Anjuli MIshra

Daphne is a junior at Lynbrook High School and a co-lead of the San Jose Youth Climate Action team. Her love of nature since childhood has developed into a passion for environmental preservation, and she hopes that many others will join the global community working to protect our common home. She joined SVYCA to empower herself and other youth to fight for tangible, impactful change. Ever since, she has loved the dedicated and supportive network of fellow advocates that the organization has given her. She is also an officer of her school’s environmental club, site lead in the FUHSD Climate Collective, and Vice Chair of the Valley Water Youth Commission. In her free time, she enjoys going to rhythmic gymnastics practice, hiking, playing clarinet, or reading a new fantasy series.

Daphne Zhu

Mani Bekele

Mila Bekele

 
 

Fremont team Co-leads

 

Sarah is a current junior at Washington High School and the co-lead of the Fremont chapter of SVYCA. She advocates for climate literacy and environmental legislation within Fremont and its Tri-City network, with a focus on education and urban development. She is also a part of the State Advocacy team at SVYCA, and the Co-President of her school's climate action club. Aside from her climate initiatives, Sarah can be found exploring new cuisines, being involved in healthcare support events, and spending time with friends.

Sarah Adkar

Viswatha Pamidipati is a current senior at Washington High School in Fremont, CA. She joined SVYCA to help advocate for environmentally conscious curricula, laws, and policies in her city. In her free time, she loves to try out new recipes for her family, paint with watercolors, and draw in her sketchbooks.

Viswatha Pamidipati

Padma is a junior at Mission San Jose High School and a co-lead of the Fremont Action Team, where she advocates for environment and urban development. She's also involved in youth-focused climate justice organizing as a member of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit and as the Vice President of her school's Youth4Climate club. In her free time, she enjoys spending way too much money on iced coffees, watching sitcoms, and going thrifting.

Padma Balaji