Local Teen Leads Beach Cleanup Initiative; Orange County Schools Embrace New Changes

This week, Ryan Hickman, a 14-year-old student at San Juan Hills High School, is starting a beach clean-up campaign. With Earth Day nearing, his five-week effort begins this Saturday. He aims to clean five beaches across Southern California and Mexico, including Huntington Beach and San Clemente. The first event will take place at Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey, where Ryan and a group of volunteers, including teen influencers, will start their clean-up.

Ryan has already recycled around 2 million bottles and cans from water bodies and coastal areas. His new campaign not only aims to clean the beaches but also to promote his nonprofit, Project3R, which educates people about recycling. Ryan is motivated by a commitment to protect marine life, noting that picking up trash can save animals.

In other news, the Orange County education sector is active with several updates. The Huntington Beach Union High School District is preparing for a new superintendent, Dr. Carolee Ogata. The California Kids Investment and Development Savings program will soon provide financial aid to over 3.6 million eligible children for their education and career training.

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is also incorporating artificial intelligence into teaching and promoting digital responsibility. The department's Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Team has involved students from Hope View Elementary School in projects like songwriting to teach them about the risks of substance abuse.

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