Yu founded Students for a Greener Future in early 2023. According to Action For Nature, the work began after Yu encountered a local reservoir affected by algae and nutrient runoff. What started as a response to a nearby environmental concern has grown into an international youth network with more than 18 chapters on five continents.
The chapters organize cleanups, tree-planting efforts and sustainability workshops. Yu has also launched a youth accelerator intended to support student-led environmental projects. The organization said Yu contributed to a 2025 microplastics study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
The International Young Eco-Hero Awards have been presented annually since 2003 by the San Francisco-based nonprofit Action For Nature. This year's winners were selected from 476 applicants in 50 countries; 16 young people ages 10 through 16 received awards. Winners participated in a virtual awards conference on Aug. 29, where they presented their projects and joined a live question-and-answer session.
Yu was one of five New York and New Jersey honorees recognized this year. The award places the Livingston teen among a class of young people whose work ranges from conservation and water stewardship to food systems and public-health preparedness, while keeping Yu's own focus on helping other students turn local environmental concerns into sustained community action.