Governor Malloy attends ceremony at the State Capitol to honor the 32 student winners from 19 different Connecticut cities and towns 

HARTFORD, Conn. (June 5, 2015) – Energize Connecticut, together with Eversource and the United Illuminating Company (UI), today announced the winners of its eleventh annual eesmarts™ Student Contest during a special ceremony at the State Capitol. 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. Governor Dannel Malloy was the keynote speaker for the event, and NBC Connecticut anchor and education reporter Todd Piro served as Master of Ceremonies.

The eesmarts Student Contest invites Connecticut students in grades K-12 to create projects about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability. Students in grades K-8 submitted 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) on a variety of energy efficiency and renewable topics. High school students-designed a community-based project to solve an energy-related issue in their city or town. More than 700 entries were received for this year’s contest.

“Connecticut’s clean energy future relies on the education of our students,” said Governor Malloy. “By providing students with the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy, the eesmarts program positions them for a lifetime of environmentally-conscious thinking, which will benefit our state and beyond.”

The eesmarts program will provide the high school winners with grant funding and technical assistance from Eversource and UI to help students make their proposed project a reality in the next school year. For all grade levels, first prize winners received a $400 Amazon Gift Card, second prize winners received a $250 Amazon Gift Card, and third prize winners received a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Representing 19 cities and towns across Connecticut, the 32 winners included:

Kindergarten

First: Alanis Butler, Franklin Elementary School, Stratford

Second: Jenelis Viera, Franklin Elementary School, Stratford

Third: Jayne Visokey, Holy Spirit School, Stamford

First Grade

First: Kaylin Figueroa, Cathedral Academy Lower School at St. Raphael Campus, Bridgeport

Second: Cheyenne Brown, Northville Elementary School, New Milford

Third: Katelyn Harris, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Second Grade

First: Lourdemia Andre, Cathedral Academy Lower School at St. Raphael Campus, Bridgeport

Second: Kiara Byrnes, Saints Peter and Paul School, Waterbury

Third: Gia Lee, St. Martha School, Enfield

Third Grade

First: Bella Curulla, Six to Six Magnet School, Bridgeport

Second: Talia Leshem, Solomon Schechter Day School, West Hartford

Third: Natalie Brown, D.H. Ferrara School, East Haven

Fourth Grade

First: Margo Katz, Mary T. Murphy School, Branford

Second: Fiona Rigney, Woodstock Elementary School, Woodstock

Third: Kristen Ward, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Fifth Grade

First: Nathan Kupcho, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Second: Kiera Garry, Holy Spirit School, Stamford

Third: Jason Ardito, May V. Carrigan Intermediate School, West Haven

Sixth Grade

First: Keelin Virgulto, Dr. Robert H. Brown Middle School, Madison

Second: Benjamin Speaker, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Khrystyna Stets, Pope John Paul II School, New Britain

Seventh Grade

First: Julia Hynek, Pope John Paul II School, New Britain

Second: Brandon Sykes, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Daniel Majkut, Engineer and Science School, Hamden

Eighth Grade

First: McKenzie Gauthier, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Second: Clare Farrington, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Royce Maxwell, St. Gregory the Great School, Danbury

High School: Grades 9-12

First: Mary Zech, St. Luke’s School, New Canaan

Second: Bertha Appia, Tatyanna Alvarado, and Brisa Cruz; West Haven High School

Third: Anuj Sisodiya, Trumbull High School

Honorable Recognition

Team 1: Jaclyn Bonomo, Olivia Kriby, and Sarah Paquette; New Milford High School

Team 2: Brian Faucher and Sarah Gagnon; Canton High School

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 Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.

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