West Hartford students are invited to participate in the updated contest by the March 22 deadline, responding to a prompt that encourages students to show off their energy efficiency smarts.

Julianne Tiu’s poster won first place in the eesmarts contest in 2-23. Courtesy photo (we-ha.com file photo)

Submitted

Energize Connecticut sponsors, Eversource and Avangrid, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, have announced that registration is open for the 19th annual eesmarts Student Contest.

For nearly two decades, the contest has invited Connecticut students in grades K-12 to answer grade-level-specific prompts on how they would promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable solutions.

This year, students in Grades K-8 are asked to submit their entries in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), limericks (Grade 3), outdoor billboard (Grade 4), fictional story with an energy-saving character (Grade 5), persuasive letter (Grade 6), comic strip (Grade 7), or social media post (Grade 8).

Students in Grades 9-12 will produce a persuasive image in words or pictures, such as a short poem (125 words or less) or cartoon strip (12 cells or less) that advocates for an energy topic. Entries will be evaluated based on scientific validity and concise and convincing imagery.

“The eesmarts Student Contest has asked students throughout Connecticut to use their imagination to address critical energy issues by developing their own solutions that will help bring us closer to a clean energy future,” said Tilak Subrahmanian, vice president of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility for Eversource. “Every year, the creativity and desire to make a difference displayed in these submissions – from comic strips and posters to group projects and social media posts – is truly incredible. I look forward to seeing what our young minds bring to the table this year.”

“To see the creativity and critical thinking displayed by Connecticut students who participate in this annual contest is always inspiring to me,” said Frank Reynolds, president & CEO of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas. “I look forward to reviewing this year’s submissions and seeing these students’ commitment to helping us reduce our emissions and further the clean energy transition. Our students are our future, and the products of contests like this one make me confident we’re in good hands.”

Contest registration is open until March 22. Project submissions are due on March 29. All work must be completed by the individual submitting the entry. No group projects are being accepted this year.

Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May 2024. Winners will receive a certificate and an Amazon gift card.

For more information about the contest, please visit EnergizeCT.com/student-contest.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.