A Crestview High School student who founded a statewide anti-litter initiative was recognized Tuesday by Okaloosa County commissioners after being named Keep Florida Beautiful Youth Champion of the Year for 2025.
- Asher Guillory, 17, received the award in November at the Keep Florida Beautiful State Conference in Coral Gables, becoming the sole recipient selected from 47 affiliates across Florida.
“This award is for young people across the state of Florida, and Asher was selected out of 47 other affiliates here in the state for her work to reduce litter, educate her peers about the importance of recycling and plastic pollution, as well as generally beautify her community here in Crestview,” said Molly McDaniel, Okaloosa County’s Keep Okaloosa Beautiful director and environmental resource coordinator, who nominated Guillory for the honor.
Guillory founded Litter Locators, a social media platform on Instagram that allows community members to identify and report littered areas through photos. Guillory and her team then facilitate volunteer cleanups at those locations.
What began as a local Crestview initiative has expanded to include four additional chapters throughout Florida.
- “Asher and her crew of Litter Locators have turned community concern to civic action by meeting with city leaders in Crestview to share her vision of a clean and beautiful community and world beyond,” McDaniel said.
Crestview Mayor JB Whitten praised Guillory’s sustained engagement with local government and community leadership.
“In the last year, Asher has been in my office several times, been in front of my mayor’s advisory council, in front of the city council, had done a video with me, had done a cleanup on Wilson Street,” Whitten said. “She’s just an outstanding individual, is doing a great thing, and came up with the program, got her students involved, and it’s just amazing what she’s done in our city and the county.”
Guillory has partnered with Keep Okaloosa Beautiful on multiple events, including ‘Bay Day’ earlier this year, where she educated participants about the negative impacts of litter and plastic pollution on local ecosystems. Another collaborative cleanup event is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Crestview.
- The recognition comes as Guillory continues to excel in multiple arenas. She recently placed third in debate at a state qualifier competition with the Crestview High School speech and debate team.
