Clean & Beautiful Announces Lynn Cobb Student of the Year Award Recipient

Eco-friendly Nonprofit Presents Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation Award at its Citizens Advisory Board Meeting to Rising Parkview High School Senior

Lawrenceville, Ga. – June 16, 2026 – Named in honor of a former executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) and a true champion of environmental education, the Lynn Cobb Student of the Year award celebrates the achievements of an environmental steward between sixth and twelfth grade. At its June 4 Citizen Advisory Board Meeting, hosted at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful – a KGBF affiliate – presented the award to Sophia Yuan, a rising senior at Parkview High School. Yuan was chosen for this award for the global impact she is already making through youth-driven environmental leadership.

Closer to home, Yuan contributes her energy and ideas through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council, where she is helping launch a garden at Camp Creek Elementary School. She also represented Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful at 2025 Climate Week in New York City, sharing insights on sustainable packaging and youth-led environmental solutions. Most notably, Yuan founded Clean Choices Together, a youth-led nonprofit that helps small businesses transition away from plastic packaging through sustainable materials, data-driven tools, and storytelling.  What began with her own small jewelry business has grown into an international network of more than 400 members, 150 volunteers, and 12 student directors spanning 30 states and 19 countries, helping 81 businesses reduce plastic waste and reach more than 239,000 shoppers. In addition to her service on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Green Youth Advisory Council and her work with Clean Choices Together, Yuan also serves on the councils for several other organizations. Included among them are the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA, the Plant-for-the-Planet Global Ambassador Council, and Project Green School’s National Youth Council, where she collaborates with youth leaders and shares environmental resources with thousands of students.

“Sophia was unable to make it to the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation environmental awards conference in Savannah in May, so they allowed us the honor of presenting the award to her,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “As a member of our Green Youth Advisory Council, we could already see the amazing promise Sophia holds as both an environmental advocate and steward. With this award, now the world can begin to see it, too! We can hardly wait to see what she has in store for the environmental movement and this planet we all share!”

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation agreed with Marlatt’s assessment, stating that Yuan’s vision, leadership, and commitment show how one student can inspire both local action and global change.

About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful:  Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GC&B) is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate and award-winning 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long-term solutions to environmental and quality-of-life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community. A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener, and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GC&B engages more than 100,000 volunteers annually to clean and restore public spaces, increase recycling, protect watersheds, and develop the next generation of environmental stewards. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its mission of “Connecting People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett,” please visit www.GwinnettCB.org. The organization invites you to connect with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful on Facebook (@gwinnettcb), Instagram (@greengwinnett), LinkedIn (@gwinnett-clean-beautiful), and X (@gogreengwinnett).

Media Contact:                Schelly Marlatt – Executive Director | Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful | (770) 822-5187 | SMarlatt@GwinnettCB.org

Post Project Results Form

For Great American Cleanup

Contact Information

Project Leader Name(Required)
Address(Required)

Results

Describe the impact of your project below, or attach additional files if needed.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Describe the work that was completed and the feedback you received from your volunteers and the members of the community.
This includes anyone donating their time to work on this project.
This includes the total number of hours volunteered per person (example: 5 volunteers work for 2 hours = 10 Volunteer Hours)

Upload Photos

Show us your impactful work! Please upload 1-3 "after photos."
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Max. file size: 50 MB.

GAC- Students Serving Seniors

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Date should be at least 10 business days from today's date.
Please attach a "before" picture.
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Do you agree to complete a Post-Project Results Form within 5 business days of your event?(Required)

Dial-a-Dumpster

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Date should be at least 10 business days from today's date.
What type of location do you wish to cleanup with Dial-a-dumpster?(Required)
If in a neighborhood with an HOA, I confirm that I have my HOA's permission to complete this project.(Required)
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Do you agree to complete a Post-Project Results Form within 5 business days of your event?(Required)

Groom and Bloom

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Date should be at least 10 business days from today's date.
What type of location do you wish to beautify?(Required)
If in a neighborhood with an HOA, I confirm that I have my HOA's permission to complete this project.(Required)
Do you agree to complete a Post-Project Results Form within 5 business days of your event?(Required)

Litter League

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Date should be at least 10 business days from today's date.
Please choose what type of cleanup you are most interested in doing
Do you have a location in mind for your cleanup?(Required)
Do you agree to complete a Post-Project Results Form within 5 business days of your event?(Required)
X