Walsh Intermediate School 5th grader Yann Calderwood (left) who took 2nd Place in his grade category, is pictured with Ken Bowes, VP of Engineering for CL&P, Marissa Westbrook, Manager of Residential Energy Services for The United Illuminating Company and Rob Klee, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
June 10, 2014
Walsh Intermediate School 5th grader Yann Calderwood took 2nd Place in his grade category among the winners of the 10th Annual Energize Connecticut Student Contest.
The eesmarts™ contest gives Connecticut students the opportunity to creatively promote energy efficient and renewable energy technologies
Energize Connecticut, in partnership with Connecticut Light & Power and the United Illuminating Company, announced the winners of its tenth annual eesmarts™ Student Contest during a special ceremony held at the State Capitol on Thursday, June 5.
The contest gives Connecticut students in grades K-12 the opportunity to showcase their “energy smarts” about energy-saving, renewable energy, and sustainability through various media forms. This year’s contest received more than 900 submissions, and the 39 finalists represented 15 cities and towns across the state.
This year’s ceremony attracted more than 100 students, parents and energy efficiency supporters in celebration of the students’ hard work. Robert Klee, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), along with State Senators, State Representatives and representatives from Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating were in attendance to congratulate the winners. NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Bob Maxon served as Master of Ceremonies.
“The future of energy efficiency and clean energy in Connecticut depends on the understanding and innovation of our youth,” said Klee. “It is a pleasure to see the projects that these students developed, all of which demonstrate a great deal of creativity and environmentally-conscious thinking.”
Students in grades K-8 answered grade-level specific prompts in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), narrative (Grade 3), news article (Grade 4), book review (Grade 5), essay (Grade 6), speech (Grade 7), or public service announcement (Grade 8).
Students in Grades 9-12 competed in the “Power of Change” award category where they propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue. Students were allowed to compete in groups in this category, and winners’ schools will receive funding to make their proposed project a reality.
The “Power of Change” category was created in collaboration with Connecticut-based foundations Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Hampshire Foundation, and the Common Sense Fund. The eesmarts program provides grants of $1,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place, with the foundations matching these grant levels.
For all grade levels, first prize winners receive a $400 Amazon Gift Card, second prize winners receive a $250 Amazon Gift Card, and third prize winners receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card.