YCLC Students Among Eight Finalists in Grow-NY Youth Competition

For the first time in school history, Baldwin High School’s Youth Change Leaders Collaborative (YCLC) competed in the prestigious Grow-NY Youth Competition—an innovation challenge showcasing the next generation of problem-solvers in food, agriculture, and sustainability. Held on November 13 in Canandaigua, NY, the event featured eight finalist teams from across the state, all vying for a $1,000 grand prize.

Representing Baldwin were juniors Benjamin Mason, Jada Benjamin, and Sanaya Halyard, who impressed judges with their original environmental concept, Green Drift: The Modern Chinampas. Drawing inspiration from ancient Aztec floating gardens, the students designed a modern system of floating planters aimed at restoring Long Island’s waterways. Their prototype uses eco-bricks made from recycled plastics to support native sea asparagus and other halophytes—plants that naturally absorb toxins such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

This innovative, open-source design not only addresses pollution and promotes cleaner coastal ecosystems, but also engages the community through education, sustainability, and hands-on stewardship. The model is adaptable to coastal regions worldwide and highlights how environmental responsibility can begin locally with student-led action.

“Seeing Baldwin High School’s YCLC step into the Grow-NY Youth Competition for the first time, especially in collaboration with our new 4-H Club Charter and Cornell’s partnership, feels like watching a new chapter of possibility open for them,” said Dr. Gabriella Franza, assistant director of instructional programs. “We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and the way they’ve grown together through this experience.”

Although the top prize ultimately went to Erie County’s Nate de Jong for a soil-health digital platform, Baldwin’s Green Drift project stood out for its creativity, scientific grounding, and commitment to community impact. The students’ participation reflects Baldwin High School’s continued dedication to empowering youth leaders who innovate, advocate, and imagine a more sustainable future for all.

Press release: https://newyork.agclassroom.org/programs/grow-new-york/2025/

“4-H and FFA Youth Get Down to Business at Grow-NY Competition”

“Other projects ranged from a biodegradable straw prototype to a digital platform for soil health, reflecting hands-on learning and a commitment to solving real-world challenges. A team from Baldwin High School in Nassau County drew inspiration from Aztec chinampas—floating islands of fertile land—to address water purification in Long Island Sound.”

Read the full article by Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences >>

https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2025/11/4-h-and-ffa-youth-get-down-business-grow-ny