Johnson Controls Encourages Student Projects On Energy Conservation, Environment
Winners of Educational Competition Win Trip to Hawaii and Present Projects to National Leaders
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 21 -- Johnson Controls and the National Energy Foundation have announced the launch of the fourth Igniting Creative Energy Challenge (ICE). The Challenge is an educational competition designed to encourage students to learn more about energy and the environment.
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Students are asked to submit entries that reflect the competition theme, Igniting Creative Energy, and demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family or group can do to make a difference in their home, school or community. Students may express their ideas on energy conservation and the environment in the form of science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, video or Web site projects. They may also submit recent service projects or results from the National Energy Foundation's own Energy Patrol activities.
"Students play an important role in energy usage which naturally extends to our business of providing energy solutions," said Jeff Crenshaw, director, public sector sales for Johnson Controls. "As we introduce our fourth Challenge, we are continually impressed by the excitement and creativity students and teachers exhibit in showing ways to preserve the environment and conserve energy."
According to Dr. Edward Dalton, president of National Energy Foundation, "Each year energy use increases, so to see how students focus on energy efficiency at home and school is encouraging for our society and world environment. It results in improved leadership, character development and service to others."
Contest Rules and Prizes
The Challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Quebec. All entries are due by February 19, 2005, and winners will be announced on or about March 21, 2005.
Official rules about the contest and a downloadable entry form can be found at the official Challenge Web site, http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/ .
A total of four grand prizes will be awarded to three students and one teacher. Three students, one in each grade cluster whose work best exemplifies the Challenge criteria, will receive a hosted trip to Hawaii April 26-30, 2005, for themselves and a parent or legal guardian. In addition, one teacher with the highest average score of student work from 15 or more qualifying entries will be chosen for a trip for two to Hawaii for the same fun and educational experience.
While in Hawaii, winners will experience the educational trip of a lifetime. This journey of "fire & ICE" will include visits to a Volcano, tropical forests, and Hawaii's famous beaches.
Winners will also participate in the National Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C., June 14-15, 2005, where they will share their Challenge entries and ideas with government and energy leaders.
All students and teachers who enter will receive an award certificate, and the first 1,000 entries will also receive a commemorative 2005 Challenge pin.
Last Year's Entries
The winning projects for the 2004 Igniting Creative Energy Challenge were a reflection of students' creativity and involvement: an original song about saving energy (elementary school student); a magazine including articles on alternative fuels, advertisements and more (middle school); and an essay about being the president of an environmental club devoted to recycling (high school student).
"The Igniting Creative Energy Challenge fit perfectly into my vision of a quality education for my students -- to become aware of a real issue that will directly affect their future and the health of our planet, and then apply their vision with the belief that their work can make an impact," said Dennis O'Laughlin, 2004 teacher winner, a high school instructor at the Crawford County Area Vocational School in Meadville, Pa.
About Sponsors and Administrators
The Challenge is sponsored and funded through an educational grant by Johnson Controls, Inc. with additional support from the United States Energy Association (USEA), and is administered by the National Energy Foundation.
The National Energy Foundation is a unique 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, dissemination, and implementation of supplementary educational materials, programs and courses that relate primarily to energy, water, natural resources, science and math, technology, conservation and the environment. These teaching resources recognize the importance and contribution of natural resources to our economy, to our national security, the environment and our quality of life.
USEA is composed of approximately 150 public and private energy-related organizations, corporations and government agencies. It represents the United States in the World Energy Council.
Johnson Controls, Inc., is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 2003 totaled $22.6 billion. For more information on Johnson Controls, Inc., visit the company's web site at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ .
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