Emma Miller, a junior at Puyallup High School, was recently one of 20 U.S. and Canadian high school students to receive the 2013 Education First Global Citizen Scholarship.

This scholarship will give Miller the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica this April to experience the Central American country's rich and diverse eco-systems, while studying successful environmental initiatives put in place by government leaders in that region.

"This is a big honor to be chosen," Miller said. "It's almost shocking to see how they described us, that they recognized us as global leaders."

Shane Steffens, president of EF Educational Tours said the 2013 class of Global Citizen Scholars is an "impressive group of high school students from across the U.S. and Canada who represent the next generation of global leaders."

"Each scholar has a unique passion for the environment," Steffens added. "They recognize the global connectedness of the world in which we live and they're prepared to tackle global enviromental challenges together."

The 10-day educational tour will culminate in a two-day leadership summit where students gathered will come up with solutions to significant environmental issues. The two-day summit wil also include key note speeches by former Vice President Al Gore, former Costa Rican President Dr. Oscar Arias and noted environmental advocate Severn Cullis-Suzuki.

To read more about Miller's upcoming adventure to Costa Rica, catch the full story in the Feb. 6 print edition of the Herald.

Reporter Andrew Fickes can be reached at 253-552-7001 or by email at andrew.fickes@puyallupherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @herald_andrew.