Energize Connecticut and its partners, Eversource and AVANGRID, Inc. subsidiaries, United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas honored 43 finalists during its 13th annual eesmarts™ Student Contest Award Ceremony at the State Capitol.
Over 1,200 Connecticut students in grades K-12 and college competed in this year’s contest. From posters to persuasive writing, community-based projects to script writing, the eesmarts Student Contest encourages students to utilize their science, engineering, technology, art and mathematics skills to showcase their knowledge of energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability.
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’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Mary Sotos served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, and FOX 61’s Joe Furey was the Master of Ceremonies.
“With on-going advancements in renewable energies, green building and energy efficient technologies, it is imperative that we equip our students to not only be environmentally-conscious but to succeed in this emerging industry,” said Sotos. “It is an honor to be a part of an initiative like eesmarts that encourages students to expand their knowledge and skill set in this subject, and brings their vision of an energy-efficient society to life.”
Representing 22 cities and towns across Connecticut, the 43 winners included:
Kindergarten
First: Landon Paradis, Lebanon
Second: Kayyana Gotti, New Haven
Third: Lasya Josyula, Hamden
First Grade
First: Samantha Roundtree, New Haven
Second: Makayla Ramos, Stratford
Third: KaraLynn Marsh, Newington
Second Grade
First: Fisnik Hasani, Stratford
Second: Bennett Zielinski, Torrington
Third: Renata DeOliveira, Bridgeport
Third Grade
First: Sydney Bronk-Zdunowski, East Berlin
Second: Cole Christman, Hamden
Third: Mariah Jimenez-Ruiz, Middletown
Fourth Grade
First: Alex Patt, West Hartford
Second: Molly Weinberg, New Haven
Third: Waliullah Ammar Khawaja, Hamden
Fifth Grade
First: Mujtaba Ather, Hamden
Second: Olivia Cabrera St. Pierre, Wallingford
Third: Zahara Sumani, Middletown
Sixth Grade
First: Elizabeth Speaker, Torrington
Second: Diana Zito, Marlborough
Third: Natalia Mocarski, New Britain
Seventh Grade
First: Jolie Edwards, Deep River
Second: Ella Pitman, Deep River
Third: Grace McPadden, Shelton
Eighth Grade
First: William Harper, Darien
Second: Ryan Blatney, Darien
Third: Eliana Bouchard, Winsted
High School: Grades 9-11
First: Jacob Manente, Michael Stefano – Windsor
Second: Natalia Lecce, Ashlynn O’Keefe, Amanda Hill, KC Marron – West Haven
Third: Tatianna McQuay-Ward, Tim Gomes, Hunter Wood – Groton
High School: Grade 12
First: Aileen Leon, New Fairfield
Second: Sydney Gouveia – New Fairfield
Third: Thomas Ciardi, New Fairfield
College
First (tied): Jordan Merrill, Willimantic
First (tied): Paul Stenko, Willimantic
Second: Kate Cobb, Willimantic
Third: Kyle O’Connor, Willimantic
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.
The “Wright the World” category invites college students enrolled in a two or four-year college or university in Connecticut to write a 25-30 minute play supporting the eesmarts curriculum and mission.
For more information on the student contest and the eesmarts program, please visit www.eesmarts.com.
About Energize Connecticut
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource, UI, SCG and CNG, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 877.WISE.USE.
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