Milpitas 10th Grader Makes an Impact on California Coastal Cleanup Day

When Samarth Iyer set out to make a difference recently on California Coastal Cleanup Day, the high school sophomore set his sights close to home.

"Water pollution and conservation are close to my heart", Iyer says. "I want to tackle big global goals and make a real difference right here at home."

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The Stratford Preparatory Milpitas student and several of his classmates, as well as Chemistry teacher Dr. Connor Song, tackled 1 mile of trails along a section of the Penitencia Creek, cleaning up and collecting over 60 pounds of trash. Iyer and his group contributed to a nationwide effort that removed 12,823 pounds of trash from waterways across Santa Clara County.

Iyer is no stranger to a greater good. He serves as the Ambassador of the Plastics and Oceans Hub through the Global Co Lab Network Youth Delegation. In July 2026, he represented global youth at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2026) at the UN Headquarters in New York City.