Shrusti Amula

Shrusti Amula is an accomplished environmental activist, community leader, and social advocate, dedicated to driving systemic change. A freshman at Georgetown University is the founder of the national award-winning nonprofit, Rise N Shine Foundation. Through this youth-led initiative, she has led food recovery programs in over 100 schools and composting programs in 15 schools across Montgomery County, Maryland, with plans to expand to all 214 district schools. Her efforts focus on diverting food waste from landfills to compost facilities to reduce greenhouse gases and rescuing surplus food from businesses and schools to combat food insecurity.

As the co-founder of the Montgomery County Student Climate Action Council (SCAC), Shrusti has played a key role in advancing sustainability initiatives and holding MCPS accountable for its climate goals. And, as advocacy remains pivotal for systemic change, she works with County and State legislators on food waste diversion, environmental education, financial literacy, and mental health policies. Her advocacy helped pass SB 124 and HB 150, securing $1.25 million for school compost and food recovery programs. In support of these bills, she spearheaded a campaign that received the support of 17,000 Marylanders from 63 schools across 14 counties which was one of the largest mobilizations of K-12 student voices before the Maryland legislature.

Shrusti’s leadership has earned her national recognition, including the prestigious Diana Award in 2024. She was also invited to introduce President Joe Biden at the White House Diwali reception, a testament to her growing influence in civic engagement.

Driven by a passion for creating lasting impact, Shrusti embodies the role of a ‘solutionist’, transforming visionary ideas into tangible community improvements. With a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, social advocacy, and policy reform, she continues to inspire and lead the next generation of changemakers.