Congratulations to New Fairfield students Lena White and Jules Davis for their 2nd place finish in the Energize CT contest!
Forty-one out of more than 1,100 Connecticut students, grades K-12 and college, were recognized for their winning projects about energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability.Energize Connecticut partners Eversource, The United Illuminating Company (UI),
Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas announced the winners of the 12th annual eesmarts™ Student Contest during a special ceremony held today at the State Capitol.
The ceremony attracted more than 150 students, parents, teachers, elected officials, and clean energy supporters from across the state in celebration of the students’ hard work.
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection energy policy chief Tracy Babbidge was the keynote speaker, and NBC Connecticut anchor Todd Piro served as Master of Ceremonies.
“Programs like the eesmarts Student Contest highlight Connecticut as a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency, and garner national recognition and attention for our state,” said Babbidge. “By educating our students on the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability, we ensure a legacy of environmentally-conscious thinking and advocacy, which will benefit our state and nation for years to come.”
Representing 22 cities and towns across Connecticut, the 41 winners included:
Kindergarten
First: Lily Sabino, West Hartford
Second: Nathaniel Moorcroft, Hebron
Third: Ian Bennett, Torrington
First Grade
First: Fisnik Hasani, North Franklin
Second: Connor Bienkowski, Torrington
Third: Aniya Medina, Bridgeport
Second Grade
First: Jason Latorilla, Waterbury
Second: Colton Andrews, Manchester
Third: Skyla Ogurick-Mendez, Waterbury
Third Grade
First: Om Brown, Hampton
Second: Evan Casine, Trumbull
Third: Sydney Huttner, West Hartford
Fourth Grade
First: Abigail DeJonghe, West Haven
Second: Talia Leshem, West Hartford
Third: Mujtaba Ather, Hamden
Fifth Grade
Second: Hannah Tuxbury, Wallingford
Third: Leah Williams, West Hartford
Sixth Grade
First: Sophia Nappi, Cheshire
Second: Hannah Trocchi, Marlborough
Third: Ryan Lauer, Torrington
Seventh Grade
First: Victoria Boustani, West Hartford
Second: Lydia Bird, Torrington
Third: Faiz Farooqui, Hamden
Eighth Grade
First: Angelina Laudano, Durham
Second: Mariam Ghaloo, Darien
Third: Brandon Sykes, Torrington
High School: Grades 9-11
First: Katlyn Campbell, Katherine Jarka, Nathaniel Savino, Paige Gnazzo, Amaria Yancey – Canton
Second: Tatianna McQuay-Ward, Hunter Wood – Groton
Third: Garrett Beaulieu, Newington
High School: Grade 12
First: Collin Stamm, Bloomfield
Second: Lena White, Jules Davis – New Fairfield
Third: Hannah Meikle, Tolland
College
First: Deborah Stauffer, Willimantic
Second: Anthony J. Piccione, Willimantic
New to the contest this year was the college “Wright the World” category and a Grade 12 category. College students, enrolled in a two or four year college or university in Connecticut, were invited to write a 25-30 minute play supporting the eesmarts curriculum and mission.
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 9-11 competed in the community service-learning project award category, which asked students to propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue. Students in Grade 12 created a persuasive image that advocated for energy conservation, alternate energy source or addressed an environmental concern.
For more information on the student contest and the eesmarts program, please visit www.eesmarts.com.
Image via Twitter @NFHighSchool