Energize Connecticut, in partnership with Connecticut Light & Power and the United Illuminating Company, is proud to announce the tenth annual eesmarts contest for students in grades K-12.
The annual eesmarts Student Contest invites Connecticut K-12 students to showcase their “energy smarts” about energy-saving, renewable energy, and sustainability through various media forms. Finalists for each grade level will be honored at a special awards ceremony on June 5, at the State Capitol in Hartford.
“One of the biggest goals of the eesmarts program is to raise awareness among Connecticut youth that our future energy efficient and clean energy world starts with them,” said Jamie Howland of ENE (Environment Northeast) and Chairperson, Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board. “The contest provides students with the opportunity to creatively demonstrate their understanding of just how important these concepts really are.”
Students in grades K-8 answer 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 compete in the “Power of Change” award category, which asks students to propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue. Students may work 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.
The contest is open to all students in Connecticut and the deadline for entries is May 2, 2014. For more information about the contest, please visit www.eesmarts.com/contest.
About Energize Connecticut
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.