Akash Munshi - Next Generation
NOMINATION 1
Description of Individual or Organization
Akash Munshi is a senior at St. Mark's School of Texas. He has been the leader of the school's gardening club for over two years. He has led the club with the overall goals of education and restoration. He transformed the group from an "ordinary" gardening club growing flowers or vegetables to an eco-minded force of restoration.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
As the president of our high school gardening club, the Cultivation Nation, Akash has led his club members in many projects over the last two years. (See list below)
I have never had a student who has been as motivated and effective at conceiving of projects and getting projects done as Akash. He has motivated his fellow students consistently through season after season of work. Even as a senior, when many students begin to ease up in their efforts, he just keeps on going. He has been a student who I have never had to spur on. He has always been completely self-motivated and he brings his peers along with him. If he expects his club members to get their hands dirty, you can be sure his hands will already be dirty. In terms of knowledge, he has taught himself the botanical names for all the native prairie plants, which he has collected and grown for restoration projects. He has surpassed my initial input by a longshot.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
Akash has concentrated his efforts in two areas: education of our younger students and eco-restoration projects in the Dallas community.
In terms of education, Akash has helped train a core of fellow students in how to collect, germinate, grow and transplant a large number of native prairie plants. He made many trips with his club members to a number of sites around the Dallas area to collect native seed (with permission). He researched the various methods for geminating wild seed and put it all into practice through multiple seasons to get enough plant stock to use in community projects (see below).
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
Akash became involved last year with the Friends of the Northaven Trail. He arranged with them two different planting projects along the trail: the first is located just north of the Hillcrest/Royal intersection (started in 2021), and the second is a larger prairie restoration project (started in the winter of 2022) located on the west side of the creek just west of where the Northaven Trail crosses Inwood Road.
As anyone who raises plants from seed knows, the time involved in growing enough native plants for these sorts of endeavors is vast. I have never had a student manage to meet the commitment that his work has required. Not only did he (and his fellow club members) collect, germinate, nurture and then plant the stock he raised, he also took his group out regularly to weed, water and care for the sites. This past summer, he acquired a pump to use to draw water from the creek by his second project in order to keep the plants from perishing in the drought conditions we endured during June and July. (By the way, the planting of that second project was open to the public, and we enjoyed a nice turnout on planting day from neighbors along the trail, faculty members from St. Mark's as well as his band of student growers.)
Earlier this year, the Friends of Northaven Trail added Akash to their board. (I don't know many 17 year olds who are on the boards of non-profits.)
Another project he has been working on over on the East Fork of the Trinity River is a reforestation effort. We grow from seed at least 75 native trees per year with my AP Environmental Science classes. Akash arranged with a property owner that needed trees for re-naturalization to bring our trees out for planting last winter and again this fall. The planting efforts are included in our community service program here at St. Mark's.
I should also mention that Akash and his club arranged with our elementary school science teacher to give multiple lessons for our younger children during the last two years on planting and gardening.
NOMINATION 2
Description of Individual or Organization
Akash is a junior attending St. Mark's School in Dallas. He has started several environmental initiatives at the school... Garden Club: Through which they've installed tow pollinator gardens and have begun a prairie restoration, both along NorthHaven Trail. They grew 40 pounds of food from their small plot outside the school greenhouse and donated it to the food bank.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Akash is the genesis of the school garden club. He is first to arrive and last to leave at events. He organizes volunteer days, required by the school, and has completed two native tree plantings and pocket prairie installations on a local ranch to enhance wildlife value. His peers respect and admire him...
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
See above... his NorthHaven Trail project is ongoing, may encompass the entire 10 miles. If completed, it would be the largest urban wildlife habitat restoration project in the nation. All started with Akash....
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
See above...
Other reasons for your nomination
This young man knew nothing about wildlife habitat or native plants when I first met him... I consult at St. Mark's weekly and have mentored him through his evolution. He formulates great ideas, educates himself, organizes the protocol, engages and follows through to completion.
It's behavior we'd like to support and encourage... he is well deserving. Thank you for your consideration...
NOMINATION 3
Description of Individual or Organization
Akash is a senior at St Marks School. He has developed and implemented a planting plan on the Northaven Trail in Dallas which aims to 'rewild' a portion of the trail, using native plants that will encourage pollinators and wildlife.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Akash has been up and down the 8 miles of the Northaven Trail and found a test-plot location where he believed a successful rewilding planting could be done. He approached the board of the Friends of Northaven Trail to propose the idea. Then he presented the concept to board members with detailed planting schemes. As native plant enthusiasts, we were so impressed with his leadership and knowledge, and we immediately noted his enthusiasm and clear passion for the project. Once we gave Akash the go ahead, he worked with numerous entities to acquire (and/or grow) the plants - including native milkweed species. Akash figured out how he could keep the new plants watered, and he helped lead the planting that was done by other SM students & teachers, and Northaven Trail board members and volunteers. Once the planting day was successfully concluded, Akash came up with a schedule to keep the new plants irrigated using an ingenious program getting water from a trail side creek. Under his watchful eye, the thousands of plants thrived in what anyone would describe as an incredibly challenging summer. He has already presented a plan for Phase 2 of the rewilding and is working on getting plants (both grown by him and secured by him) for a late fall planting.
In addition to the rewilding plot, he also has a beautiful "show garden" of perennial native Texas plants near Hillcrest and Royal on the Trail in Dallas that is designed and planted specifically for pollinators.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
His incredible volunteer contribution to the Northaven Trail will invite pollinators, new native plants, and other wildlife to thrive in our urban setting.
Akash has spent hundreds if not thousands of hours working on the rewilding plot, growing the plants, presenting his plans, watering the area, weeding the area, educating to volunteers, educating his fellow students, securing seeds and plants, and more. He has done more for the wildscaping of the trail than any other person and plans to do even more.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
The contributions to the Northaven Trail community are immense. He has helped educate the Friends of the Northaven Trail board and volunteers about why native plants are essential, and will help us educate the community surrounding the trail, helping them to understand why the areas just off the trail are not just bermuda grass anymore.
Thousands of people use the Northaven Trail every week. With these new pollinator and rewilding areas, we will be able to demonstrate to the neighbors the benefits of this new and beautiful kind of trail enhancement.
Other reasons for your nomination
I am on the board of the Northaven Trail and also a Master Naturalist. I've never seen a young man so engaged in the community and so caring about native plants and insects. I could not be any more impressed with his contributions and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him.