Adam developed a passion for sustainability during an immersion trip to Navajo Nation, where he saw firsthand the impact environmental degradation has on the families and communities living there. His passion, however, goes beyond working to restore and rejuvenate the world around us. Rather, it is about educating and empowering others to take action and create meaningful change in their own communities. 

When a waste audit at his high school showed compost contamination rates as high as 50 percent, Adam knew his campus community could be doing more to reduce the amount of waste going to local landfills. That waste produces methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Soon after, he and a team at Brophy trained and developed WasteCam – an AI-powered camera that detects and analyzes different types of waste in real time to help staff and students sort compostable utensils, plates, and napkins from his high school’s lunch room.  Thus far, educational initiatives and proper signage have lowered the campus’ compost contamination rate from as high as 50 percent, down to around 10 percent, and he hopes to eventually implement WasteCam which could bring rates down to 5%. While WasteCam is still in the testing phase, Adam’s goal is to eventually implement WasteCam nationwide. He also organized a prayer service dedicated to environmental activism from a Catholic lens, highlighting his unique ability to brainstorm creative, impactful solutions in a variety of spaces. 

When it comes to success, Adam recognized the value of teamwork early on. He characterizes the start of WasteCam as a collaborative effort among mentors, friends and others who provided feedback and support. He thinks all young people should seek out and learn from those who are more experienced, and stay open to constructive feedback.

Whether collecting and re-distributing used clothing, leading immersion trips to the Navajo Nation, or re-distributing books to Native American, refugee and Title 1 students through the Driving Empowerment, Action, and Learning (DEAL) Club, Adam believes in the power of open-mindedness, compassion and adaptability. He strives to take advantage of the experiences the world has to offer, and feels learning about people, issues or places outside of his comfort zone makes him a better person.

In addition to his acts of service, Adam is a member of the Cross Country Team, sings with the prestigious traveling Pueri Cantores choir, the official student choral organization of the Catholic Church, and recently started an internship as an Applied Sustainability Research intern at Circular Earth. He hopes to one day work in the climate tech industry.