This 12-year-old from Ohio, is a 6th grader at New Miami Elementary School. She loves to read, ride her bike at Miami Whitewater Forest, play soccer–and help the environment!

QUESTION: How does it feel to be a first-prize winner of the Toyota Agent for Change contest?
ANSWER: I'm really excited!!!

Q: How did you dream up the idea for your winning pamphlet?
A: I started noticing lots of litter and got tired of seeing it. I also wanted to do something about the loss of rainforest.

Q: Did your teacher, Annie Combs, encourage you to enter the contest?
A: Yes, she said that she thought I could win.

Q: Why is helping the environment important?
A: This is the only world we have and we should take better care of it.

Q: How do you think the pamphlet you created will help others?
A: If people read my pamphlet and try some of the suggestions our resources will last longer, our environment will be cleaner, and our world will be a better place for kids with asthma.

Q: Is your family excited that you won?
A: My family is very excited for me. At first they were speechless and smiling really big, and then they started hugging me and saying, "Way to go! That's great!"

Q: How can other kids take steps to be kid leader like you?
A: They can do a lot of stuff like start recycling at home or school, pick up trash, or they could make a club at their school for kids who want to help our environment.

Q: Why is it important that kids like you care about the environment?
A: It's important because if kids don't care they will eventually grow up to be adults who don't care. I can make a difference now and when I am grown up.

Q: Why is it important that companies like Toyota develop new technology like their hybrid vehicles?
A: So there will be less air pollution and not as much fossil fuel will be used.

Q: What do you want to do with your future?
A: I want to become a paleontologist (they dig up dinosaur bones).

Q: How else do you help the environment?
A: I started a club at my school called S.E.E. (Save Earth's Environment) Kids. It's all about conserving nature and shows that kids can do something about it! We are recycling cans to raise money to buy a piece of rainforest and bringing in paper from home for the school's paper recycling program.