FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2026
Contact Name: Katie Zakrzewski
Catholic Climate Covenant
katie@catholicclimatecovenant.org | 501-618-0234
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic Climate Covenant is proud to announce Alexa Santana as the first annual recipient of its Pope Francis Climate Justice Scholarship, a new initiative designed to support young leaders committed to caring for creation and advancing climate justice.
The Covenant launched the Pope Francis Climate Justice Scholarship to invest in the next generation of leaders at the intersection of faith and environmental stewardship. The scholarship provides $5,000 each year over four years to assist students pursuing post-secondary education while remaining actively engaged in climate justice through academic work, research, or community initiatives.
“Young people are deeply — and rightfully — concerned about their future in a climate-threatened world,” said Covenant Founder and Executive Director Dan Misleh. “We want to let them know that their Church not only hears them, but supports them to become the leaders this movement needs. We are so pleased to offer this modest, 4-year scholarship to Alexa and look forward to seeing her leadership develop and how she puts her passion for our common home into action.”
Alexa Santana, 17, of Boston, Massachusetts, is a senior at Fontbonne Academy and plans to study human development and applied psychology. After completing a two-year program, she intends to continue her studies in the Washington, D.C. area.
Santana’s commitment to climate justice began during her freshman year of high school after attending a youth climate march in New York City. That experience sparked her passion for understanding how environmental challenges disproportionately impact vulnerable communities and inspired her to take action locally.
In Boston, Santana has been involved in community work focused on resource allocation and equity, while also co-founding an environmental club at her school with fellow students through her involvement with the Catholic Climate Covenant. She has also served as a student leader with the Covenant’s Catholic Youth Climate Leadership program in Boston since her freshman year.
Her dedication to both faith and justice was evident in her scholarship application, where she emphasized the importance of collective action in caring for our common home.
“Care for our common home lies in the people, and in how we work together to make a change,” Santana wrote.
Through her academic and extracurricular work, Santana has connected climate justice with Catholic Social Teaching, deepening her understanding of environmental responsibility as a core expression of faith.
“Alexa, like so many young people, knows that climate justice requires not just technical solutions, but moral frameworks for action that faith can provide,” said Young Adult Mobilization Manager Diana Marin. “We are inspired by her faithful leadership and are thrilled to award her the Pope Francis Climate Justice Scholarship.”
Santana also encourages other young people to remain hopeful and engaged, even in the face of challenges.
“I think a lot of people will say that it’s useless or that there’s no point — people view this work through such a pessimistic lens,” she said. “But through faith, I feel like it’s my duty. It brings me hope and makes me want to do it even more. We need people to see climate justice not as something taboo, but as something urgent that we all must address together.”
Scholarship recipients are required to maintain full-time enrollment in an accredited institution, continue their involvement in climate justice efforts, and participate in annual check-ins with Covenant staff to ensure continued eligibility.
Catholic Climate Covenant looks forward to supporting Santana’s educational journey and ongoing leadership in climate justice, as well as expanding opportunities for other young leaders in the years to come.
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About Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholic Climate Covenant is a national U.S. nonprofit founded with the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2006 that inspires and equips U.S. Catholics and institutions to care for creation together. Through 20 national partners, we guide the U.S. Church’s response to climate change and integral ecology through faith-driven education, advocacy, and resources.
www.catholicclimatecovenant.org.
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