Ulladulla High School captain Takesa Frank had one more goal as a school leader before she finished this year - remove plastic water bottles from the canteen.
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Her two-year campaign to end the sale of single use plastic water bottles at the school's canteen came to fruition last week.
The year 12 student used a multipronged approach to change her peers' habits. She had been going to canteen meetings for the past two years, stressing the effects of single use plastic on the marine environment.
Her push continued with the school installing water filling stations and supplying year 7 students with reusable drink bottles in their book packs.
Finally single use plastic water bottles were removed from the canteen in term 3.
"It just shows if you're passionate about something and you constantly work towards it you shouldn't give up if you get pushed back," Ms Frank said.
Ms Frank is also involved with Take 3 For The Sea and the student environment council's push for twilight markets to promote locally grown foods and sustainable products.
She helped organise a lunchtime rally for action on climate change and also put forward a deposition alongside students Jade Mudge and Lachlan Congram regarding climate change at a Shoalhaven City Council meeting.
The rally was held on the same day students went on strike to demand stronger political action on climate change.
The HSC student said it has led to a lunchtime forum, ran by the new student leaders, where students are using their voice to raise a variety of issues.
"That was really positive and it's gone onto other movements," she said.
The three students could not speak when the first mayoral minute, acknowledging students for their direct action in the Students Global Strike for Climate Action, was raised at a March council meeting.
"We didn't really have a voice and that was frustrating to not be able to talk about something that's about you," she said.
However, they deposed at the next meeting and the minute was acknowledged.
"I think they really listened to us. They acknowledged the climate strike in the local area," she said.
"It was really good to have that voice. We didn't get the chance to go to the Sydney rally so this was a way to have our voice heard in the community."
In early August Ms Frank was recognised for her efforts on environmental action. She was presented with the Bournda Environmental Education Centre Young Environment Award.
Ms Frank thanked Bournda EEC for the award. She received $500 which she donated back to the school for the purchase of a new water filling station.
