Johnson Controls, NEF and USEA Announce Energy Contest Winners
Students, teacher will receive VIP tour of Hawaii, trip to Washington, D.C.
MILWAUKEE, April 26 -- The winners of the fourth annual Igniting Creative Energy Challenge were on fire this year, showcasing a giant matchbook filled with energy tips, a newspaper filled with articles on global energy issues and an elegant photographic essay. The Challenge is an educational competition sponsored and funded through a grant by Johnson Controls, Inc., with additional support from the United States Energy Association (USEA). It is administered by the National Energy Foundation (NEF).
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The winners -- three students and a teacher -- will receive a hosted trip to Hawaii in April, as well as the opportunity to participate in the June 14 - 15 National Energy Efficiency Forum ( http://www.eeforum.net/ ) in Washington, D.C., where they will share their Challenge entries and ideas with government and energy leaders.
"Johnson Controls is proud to be involved in a program so consistent with our company's mission of improving educational opportunities focused on energy and the environment," said John Kennedy, president of the Controls Group at Johnson Controls. "We acknowledge the hard work of the winners, and are honored to recognize them and their creative ideas."
The Igniting Creative Energy Challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the U.S. and Canada. Students were 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.
Additionally, one teacher with the highest average score of student work from 15 or more qualifying entries is chosen as a winner.
Projects submitted for judging include essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, video, Web sites or science project ideas. The judging staff consisted of more than 25 professionals nationwide with backgrounds in science, math, music, art, and gifted and talented education, as well as environmental industry experts. Judging was done in preliminary and final rounds with an 11-member panel conducting the final phase.
"This year's entries amazed us with their quality, creativity and inspiration to improve the environment," said Edward Dalton, president of the National Energy Foundation. "We had a record 2500 entries this year. We are thrilled that students enjoy taking part in the Challenge."
Igniting Creative Energy Challenge winners include:
-- Elementary Division: Heather Wilder, fifth grader, William Lummis
Elementary School, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nev. -
submitted a giant matchbook, with each match describing a well-known
energy leader and one way to save energy.
-- Middle School Division: Tabitha Head, seventh grader, El Campo Middle
School, El Campo Independent School District, El Campo, Texas -
submitted a newspaper for which she served as writer, editor,
photographer, reporter and printer. The articles discuss global energy
challenges.
-- High School Division: Thuy Le, senior, Westlake High School, Charles
County Public Schools, Waldorf, Md. - submitted a photographic essay on
transportation in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
-- Teacher Division: Karen Dolan, teacher, Liberty High School, Bethlehem
Area School District, Bethlehem, Penn. - students submitted a
restoration project that is transforming a vacant grist mill into an
environmental action center and model for recycling, green technology
and sustainable energy.
Students were asked to write a one-page summary that described their motivation for submitting an entry and what they hope their project accomplishes. Thuy Le wrote: "Through my photos, I hope people will realize that the environmentally-friendly choice is often more attractive, practical and rewarding than the wasteful option. Opportunities for energy conserving actions are all around us; we just need to recognize them."
"I was blown away with the creativity and imagination of these young winners," said Kenneth G. Sheinkopf, director of public affairs for the Florida Solar Energy Center and judging panel member. "All of the entries this year were very impressive."
The winning entries for 2005 will be posted at http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/ . There also will be links from the National Energy Foundation and Johnson Controls web sites.
About NEF
The National Energy Foundation is a unique 501(c)(3) non-profit 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, our national security, the environment and our quality of life.
About USEA
The United States Energy Association is the United States member of the World Energy Council. USEA is composed of approximately 150 public and private energy-related organizations, corporations and government agencies.
About Johnson Controls
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 2004 totaled $26.6 billion. For more information on Johnson Controls, Inc., visit the company's Web site at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ .
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