Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs / Pooja Agrawal's 2015 submission to the Ocean Awareness Student Contest won the Silver Award ($1000) in High School Film. Because her film was so beautifully rendered and educational, she also won the Advocacy Award ($250) for the entire High School division. As such, the contest will make a matching donation to an organization of her choice, and will send her video and reflection as a "film petition" to any three organizations of her choice.
Pooja is in 12th Grade at Cypress Ridge High School in Houston, Texas. She was sponsored by her mother, Vandana Agrawal.
Reflection: The ocean is so vast that I cannot even wrap my mind around its size. I hope my short film will convey the definite information that I understand about the ocean-that it is our duty to preserve it. I created this work for the sole purpose of telling others that it is not too late. It is not too late to change our actions so that we can limit the impact our plastics usage is having on the ocean. If we do nothing now, that one day may come when it is too late to do anything. I can only hope to play my small role and inspire others to spread awareness about ocean stewardship. I encourage people of all ages to take a stand against the degradation of the ocean. Together we can preserve the world’s most beautiful gift. We have no choice but to do so, for our lives depend on it.