2025 Student of the Year: Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili
At NatureBridge, we celebrate the stewards of today and foster the development of the stewards of tomorrow, working to inspire a commitment to environmental conservation in all our participants. Our goal is to motivate our students to be changemakers in their communities and for our planet.
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in a NatureBridge program. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening with NatureBridge on May 8 in San Francisco, CA.
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Student of the Year: Eighth grader Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili!
Subiksha Shri participated in a NatureBridge program with her classmates from Lawson Middle School at our Yosemite campus in January 2025. A passionate hiker, dancer, and devoted steward of the natural world from Cupertino, CA, Subiksha Shri is a shining example of how transformative experiences in nature can shape young minds and hearts.
I am deeply grateful for our NatureBridge guide, Eva. She helped us realize and recognize the secrets and importance of nature… Hiking up and down for five days isn’t easy, but doing it with Eva was a spectacular adventure.Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili, 2025 Student of the Year
One of Subiksha Shri’s most unforgettable moments at NatureBridge was a challenging yet rewarding 12-mile hike to a viewpoint of Yosemite Falls. “Despite the rigorous exercise,” she reflects, “the final destination, on top of a mountain, looking down at the view was simply mesmerizing.” With birds soaring overhead, forests stretching across the valley floor, and waterfalls cascading between sunlit rocks, the scene left an indelible mark on Subiksha Shri’s spirit.
But the impact of her NatureBridge experience went far beyond the unforgettable views. “I discovered my independent, individualistic hidden self,” Subiksha Shri shares. Breaking away from familiar routines and stepping into the unknown wasn’t always easy—but it resulted in her developing new bonds with her peers, with the environment, and with herself.
A week with NatureBridge, Yosemite, and peers gave me a chance to explore my fullest potential with nature as my guide. This trip gave me a hands-on-experience of valuable lessons of stewardship, preservation, and conservation.Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili, 2025 Student of the Year
Since returning from Yosemite, Subiksha Shri has become a passionate advocate for the planet, especially among her family and friends. “Being part of nature and making it a part of me taught me the importance of preservation for future generations,” she asserts. Subiksha Shri has been sharing her experiences with her younger sister, hoping to spark in her the same sense of responsibility and wonder that she herself found in the forest. Everyone has to take part in preserving nature, she says. “[It] isn’t something that is only taken care of by professionals and guides.”
I stand strong on influencing the younger generations to take part in major issues in our nation and worldwide. Taking care of nature is one of them. I believe that NatureBridge puts forth all its efforts in inspiring [this].Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili, 2025 Student of the Year
Congratulations, Subiksha Shri, and thank you for your passion, your voice, and your vision. We can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next.
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2025 Student of the Year: Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili
Subiksha Shri participated in a NatureBridge program with her classmates from Lawson Middle School at our Yosemite campus in January 2025. A passionate hiker, dancer, and devoted steward of the natural world from Cupertino, CA, Subiksha Shri is a shining example of how transformative experiences in nature can shape young minds and hearts.
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