Brielle Martinez Named Local 10's 2025 Eco Hero, Wins Trip to Australia

Surprise Announcement of the 2025 Eco Hero

• 🏆 The Local 10 Eco Hero award winner was revealed after weeks of highlighting five passionate high school students dedicated to environmental protection.
• 🤩 Brielle Martinez, a senior at Terra Environmental Research Institute, was surprised with the announcement and the grand prize: a trip to Australia.
• 🦎 The surprise was delivered by Ron Mill from Zoo Miami, accompanied by a blue-tongue skink named Stitch.

Brielle Martinez's Environmental Activism

• 🌿 Brielle has dedicated nearly 500 hours as a conservation volunteer at Zoo Miami, focusing on wildlife, especially reptiles.
• 📢 She has organized rallies to protect Florida's endangered bonneted bat and leads her school's "Million Orchid Project" for Fairchild Botanical Gardens.
• 🦈 Brielle also participates in tagging sharks with environmentalists from the University of Miami.

The Prize: An Environmental Adventure in Australia

• 🇦🇺 As the winner, Brielle will travel to Australia to experience its unique animals and biodiversity firsthand.
• 🌳 The trip aims to allow her to learn how Australians protect their wildlife and to inspire her future career as a veterinarian.
• 🗣️ Brielle emphasizes the importance of advocating for animals and natural spaces that cannot defend themselves.

Recognition for Finalists and Future Plans

• ✨ The other four Eco Hero contest finalists—Alexia, Andre, Ana, and Charlotte—were also recognized for their incredible environmental work.
• ✈️ Local 10 will be providing live reports from Australia in June, following Brielle's journey.