Derek Nguyen | NYCAA Alumni Update

What He’s Up To Now

Derek Nguyen, a 2024 National Youth Climate Activism Award recipient, recently shared an update about what the NYCAA community has meant to him and how his climate work continues to shape his academic path.

Derek is currently (2026) continuing his education and research in healthcare, where he hopes to bring sustainability perspectives into the healthcare system and advocate for more environmentally responsible practices.

Watch derek’s Alumni Update

Transcript

“Hi, I’m Derek, and in 2024 I had the amazing privilege of being a recipient of the National Youth Climate Activism Award.

As someone who cares deeply about sustainability and the natural environment, I can say that the NYCAA community has been an incredible support for me. It has been an absolute honour to connect with so many like-minded individuals.

One thing I’ve come to realize is that there are many areas where we can improve when it comes to sustainability.

As I continue my education and research in healthcare, I hope to bring my experiences and the perspectives of others I’ve met through NYCAA to help advocate for a more environmentally friendly healthcare system.”