State: California
Years on RSYC: 2025-2026
Ray channels his environmental vision into tangible community action. As co-president of his high school’s Roots & Shoots club, Ray has stewarded several improvements in and around school grounds.
Ray’s Roots & Shoots club has spearheaded creek clean-ups, the revitalization of a walking trail, and, most recently, installed a hydration station at the school to reduce the use of plastic water bottles.
Ray has continued his P-22 Wildlife Awareness project, using Roots & Shoots materials to enhance the school assemblies he and his partner offer. Using the story of a beloved local mountain lion, they engage audiences in wildlife conservation issues and the benefits of a local wildlife crossing. He is also active with the Los Angeles Roots & Shoots Basecamp.
Outside of Roots & Shoots, Ray shapes policy as a student commissioner on the Calabasas Environmental Commission and finds joy in surfing, snowboarding, and hiking. He’s also active in Model UN, where he explores his interest in Indigenous issues.
Ray’s dedication to inspiring others to action is clear: “I hope to connect with other environmental leaders worldwide to represent the younger generation of Roots & Shoots.”
