Energize Connecticut will be accepting submissions through March 31 for the 18th annual ‘eesmarts’ Student Contest, with a new prompt encouraging students to show off their energy-efficiency smarts.

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Energize Connecticut sponsors, Eversource and AVANGRID, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, has announced that the 18th annual “eesmarts” Student Contest will be accepting student submissions, and has extended the deadline through April 28, 2023.

Updates to grade-specific prompts have been made this year to foster students’ creativity and allow for new technologies and social media platforms to be used in responses. The contest is open to Connecticut students in grades K-12 and topics are focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability solutions.

“For almost two decades, the ‘eesmarts’ Student Contest has engaged students throughout Connecticut and has asked them to use their imagination and knowledge to come up with solutions to address real-world energy matters,” said Eversource Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility Tilak Subrahmanian. “Our new prompts are designed to foster creativity and empower students to leverage new technologies and tools that are readily available to them today. We are excited to see how students implement these platforms to address critical energy issues and the importance of energy efficiency in their responses this year.”

“Computers, video, social media and even, gaming technology have changed how students interact with and learn about important environmental issues like energy conservation, renewable energy and energy efficiency,” said Erik Robie, Director of Customer Programs & Products at AVANGRID. “Our students are our future. We hope that with these changes more students are engaged in the ‘eesmarts’ Student Contest and inspire others to make meaningful change in our community.”

Students in grades K-8 are assigned grade-specific topics and asked to submit their entries in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), narrative (Grade 3), letter to the principal (Grade 4), children’s picture book (Grade 5), persuasive TikTok (Grade 6), anime or comic strip (Grade 7), or a public service announcement for social media (Grade 8).

Students in Grades 9-11 are asked to propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue. Students may work in groups of up to three members. The winning team’s school will receive funding to help make their proposed project a reality and must complete it by March 31, 2024.

Students competing in the Grade 12 category will produce a persuasive infographic that advocates for energy conservation and alternate energy sources. Infographics are eye-catching, concise overviews (typically one page) that contain images, data visualizations (charts or graphs), and minimal text. Entries will be evaluated based on scientific accuracy and concise and convincing imagery.

Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May 2023. Winners will receive a certificate and an Amazon gift card.

For more information about the contest, please visit www.energizect.com/eesmarts/annual-student-contest.

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