The National Energy Foundation (NEF) co-hosts student competitions throughout the US, locally and nationally. These competitions allow students to fully engage with what they have learned in classroom presentations and share energy literacy messages within their community.
The PPL Electric Utilities school programs offered two contests for students in the fall of 2019. Students located in PPL territory in kindergarten through eighth grade could enter the PPL Bright Ideas Poster Contest. High school students that participated in the PPL Electric Utilities Innovation program in their classrooms were eligible to enter the Innovation Challenge. Both contests asked students to be creative in communicating their ideas on energy and water efficiency to their respective communities. With over 800 poster entries, and over 60 qualified high school entries, judging was difficult. In the end, a panel of judges from PPL Electric Utilities and NEF were able to narrow the entries down to the winners in each category.
While delivering prizes*, teachers and students alike had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the community outreach these contests bring. “Thank you so much! The kids have selected a science field trip they want to go on, with some of the money! Some of these kids don’t get the chance to go places outside of their hometown. So, this is a neat opportunity for them!” Veronica Klimchak from Dauphin County Technical School said. You can view Caden’s grand prize-winning entry for the Innovation Challenge at https://youtu.be/tX5QXo6MnpA
“I have never felt so special.”
Paige A., 5th grade
“I am so happy you are here! This class really needs this to lift them up.”
Dr. Jennifer Murphy, principal at Lititz Elementary
Below you will find a full list of our winners for the 2019 contest season. Please visit our websites, http://thinkenergy.org/brightideas-poster-contest/ to view the winning posters and pplelectric.com/innovation to see the winning Innovation Challenge entries.
Rishita P. (honorable mention) and Caitlyn C. (grand prize), 7th graders from Springhouse Middle School, with their teacher, Josh Abrams. 
rand prize winner, Abigail B., 5th grader at Greenwood Elementary School, with her teacher Zach Smith. Also pictured: Mary Ann Kelly-Merenda, John Hollinger and Tracie Witter from PPL Electric Utilities, and Stephanie Dorman from National Energy Foundation. 
8th grader Lyla P. with teacher Rachel Shior from Executive Education Charter School. Honorable Mention 
Honorable mention Innovation Challenge winners Camryn B. and Chase D. with teacher Anne Bleistine from Lancaster Catholic. 
Honorable mention winner Lily J., 5th grader at Central Manor Elementary, with her teacher, EmilyO’Donnell. 
Honorable mention winners Cailyn O. and Velina M. and grand prize winner Sawyer M. with their teachers Francine Kevra and Shannon O’Donnell from Isaac Tripp Elementary. 
Honorable mention winner Maggie R., 5th grader at Lincoln Elementary, with her teacher, Nicole Wukitch, along with Mary Ann Kelly-Merenda from PPL Electric Utilities and Stephanie Dorman from National Energy Foundation. 
Honorable mention winner Evette D. from Selinsgrove High School with teacher Tracy Hepner and principal Mr. Parise with Mary Ann Kelly-Merenda from PPL Electric Utilities. 
Grace B., 2nd grader at Macungie Elementary with her teacher, Nicole Wukitch. Honorable Mention
*The poster contest prizes consist of $25-100 Amazon gift cards, pizza or ice cream parties for classes and $100 classroom mini-grants for teachers. The video contest prizes include wireless Beats by Dre™ wireless headphones and $250-500 classroom grants for teachers.
