Statewide contest provided students the opportunity to creatively promote energy efficient and renewable energy technologies
WILLIMANTIC, Conn., June 7, 2017 – Eastern Connecticut State University students Jordan Merrill, Paul Stenko, Kate Cobb and Kyle O’Connor were honored last week as finalists at the 13th annual eesmarts™ Student Contest ceremony held at the State Capitol.
Presented by Energize Connecticut in partnership with Eversource and AVANGRID, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, the eesmarts Student Contest invites Connecticut students in grades K-12 and college to create projects about energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability.
Jordan and Paul’s skits tied for 1st place in the college playwright category. Jordan’s main character, Dr. Reenulious, realizes Earth is going through changes due to global warming. Through the course of the play, Dr. Reenulious, with the help of his students, Flora and Roxy, discovers that energy efficient technologies and renewable energy sources can help reduce energy usage and protect the environment.
For Paul’s winning script, he rescripted Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” for his play “A Conservation Carol.” In this version, Ebenezer Scrooge hires a new laboratory assistant, Bob, who tries to convince him to be less wasteful. When this advice is ignored, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who show him the importance of limiting energy usage and reducing his impact on the environment.
As first place recipients, Jordan and Paul received the opportunity to cast and perform the play during the 2017-2018 academic year. Jordan’s play will be produced for a middle school audience while Paul’s production will be seen by an elementary school-aged audience.
Kate received 2nd place for her play, “Little Changes Make a Difference,” which is a story about a family who does not believe their young daughter when informs them that the Earth is sick.
Kyle’s play “Saving the World One Day at a Time” won 3rd place.
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.
For more information on the student contest and the eesmarts program, please visit www.eesmarts.com.