Students Share Their Bright Ideas with PPL Electric Utilities

Nearly 3,000 Entries Submitted for Company's 2011 Energy Efficiency Poster Contest

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Jun 30, 2011, 03:55 ET

ALLENTOWN, Pa., June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With nearly 3,000 entries from more than 100 Pennsylvania communities, students had a lot of bright ideas about energy savings for the inaugural Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Poster Contest.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110630/PH29152 )

PPL Electric Utilities announced the 12 winners Thursday (6/30).

The contest focused on raising awareness among students, teachers and families of the small changes they can make that can have a big impact on their energy savings. It was developed by PPL Electric Utilities and implemented in schools with assistance from the National Energy Foundation as part of PPL's Earth Day activities in April.

The contest was open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade within PPL Electric Utilities' 29-county service area. A panel of judges selected winners in three grade categories: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8.

The winners of the Bright Ideas 2011 Energy Efficiency Poster Contest are:

Grades K-2
Grand prize: Rachael Rose, Scranton, St. Clare/St. Paul School
Kindergarten: Khristian Banks, Mountain Top, Fairview Elementary School
1st grade: Cole Roberts, Moscow, Moscow Elementary Center
2nd grade: Heather Slocum, Jim Thorpe, L.B. Morris Elementary School

Grades 3-5
Grand prize: Madison Emans, Pocono Pines, Tobyhanna Elementary Center
3rd grade: Toni Perez, Allentown, Cetronia Elementary School
4th grade: John "Jack" Wetherhold, Hershey, St. Joan of Arc School
5th grade: Benjamin Quaglio of Allentown, Parkway Manor Middle School

Grades 6-8
Grand prize: Laura Tatiana C. Frayna, Hershey, St. Joan of Arc School
6th grade: Millionaire Pil, Oberlin, Swatara Middle School
7th grade: Sneha Shankar, Macungie, Eyer Middle School
8th grade: Kim Troyer, Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg Middle School

"PPL Electric Utilities is always looking for ways in which we can educate our customers and the public about energy conservation," said Tom Stathos, director of Customer Programs and Services for PPL Electric Utilities. "What better way to promote energy efficiency than to help teach future energy savers – the students who live and learn within our 29-county service area – the small steps they can take to be more energy-efficient today so that we can all benefit tomorrow."

"With nearly 3,000 entries, it's clear that students have a lot of bright ideas on how to use energy wisely," Stathos said.

Grand-prize winners in each category received a $500 savings bond and a congratulatory plaque. In addition, the teachers of grand-prize winners in each category received a $500 classroom grant. The three finalists in each category received a $200 savings bond and a congratulatory plaque.

Additionally, each winning poster will be framed and included in a traveling art exhibit used to educate the public about energy efficiency.

For more information about Bright Ideas 2011 Energy Efficiency Poster Contest, and to view a photo gallery of the winning entries, please visit www.pplelectric.com/brightideas.

SOURCE PPL Electric Utilities