A Passion for the Environment
by Ben Alter
Judiht Hilares, a Suzanne Macaoay Memorial Scholarship winner, is passionate about the environment. Growing up near the Rimac River in her hometown of Lima, Peru, she saw how mismanagement of the river often resulted in flooding and pollution. “I wanted to do something,” said Judiht.Since immigrating to the United States five years ago, she has nurtured her passion for the environment. After learning English in an ESL course, she got a part-time job in the school’s Biological and Physical Sciences labs at Passaic County Community College (PCCC) and obtained a certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA). Later, while pursuing her associate’s degree in biology and working in the lab, she ran a project that studied the use of hydroponics to grow vegetables without soil, and became president of PCCC’s Bridges to Baccalaureate (B2B) science club, which organizes activities and workshops to assist minority students who are pursuing STEM-related degrees. In February, she led a project on “Larv” pellets that are designed to prevent malaria, which won first place in the sySTEMic Challenge contest organized by Rutgers University.
In the summer of 2024, Judiht studied gorilla behavior at the Bronx Zoo. “I always wanted to be like Jane Goodall,” she said wistfully. The internship led to her decision to become a conservation biologist.
She sees community engagement as the key to environmental sustainability. “Working with the community is the best way to care for the environment.” She believes that scientists have a special responsibility to communities. “Scientists should give a community the tools to take care of itself. If the scientists do not work with the community, nothing will get accomplished.”
Judiht also is passionate about children. She volunteers on weekends at the pre-school at her church. “I love working with the 3- to 5-year-olds. It’s my favorite age.”
“I believe every need is an opportunity to apply what I’m learning, give back, and inspire others to work hard and stay connected to the world around us. With the right education, hands-on science, and community work, I believe we can create real impact.” Wherever her life takes her, she will make a difference. With passion.