Nashua Teen Receives Environmental Award

A Nashua student has been honored by the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency for developing a method to purify water, according to a press release from the EPA.

Deepika Kurup, 16, was given a President’s Environmental Youth Award by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the EPA for developing “a light-weight photocatalytic composite that harnesses solar energy for water purification.” The project is both “green and sustainable,” the statement noted, also raised awareness of the community about water issues.

“I have been passionate about solving the global water crisis since I was in elementary school, as I was exposed to the water problem at a very early age,” said Kurup. “I believe that environmental education is very important, and I am very honored to be the EPA Region 1 recipient of the 2014 President’s Environmental Youth Award.”

The award was given to Kurup at the White House along with 59 other students. Seventeen teachers were also honored.

“I am inspired to see such creative and promising work coming from one of New England’s younger citizens,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “The solutions to our environmental concerns need to come from all directions. Ms. Kurup’s innovative work, and that of the other PEYA winners, bodes well for a cleaner and healthier environment in the future.”