Even during the pandemic, REAP staff hosted the annual Power Pledge Challenge (PPC). It just looked a little different this year.

More than 550 students from 31 fourth through twelfth grade classrooms around the state participated in the 2020 Power Pledge Challenge, an initiative aimed at helping youth better understand energy use. This year’s campaign was all virtual with students competing for regional and statewide prizes. A seventh grade science class from Hanshew Middle School in Anchorage is this year’s statewide winner.

Utilities and organizations from the Matanuska Susitna Valley, Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Juneau, Fairbanks, and statewide hosted the challenge as part of Energy Awareness Month, recognized every year in October. In the Challenge, students completed a hands-on activity from the AK EnergySmart curriculum, learned how to calculate the cost of appliance use and discovered ways to reduce their energy usage at home. Students then conducted an online home energy assessment with their families and identified specific actions they would take to use energy more efficiently.

Jon Dyktra’s 3rd period science class at Hanshew Middle School is the 2020 statewide winner. The class will be awarded energy related classroom materials worth $2,000 and each student will receive a bag of energy efficient supplies to use at home. Five regional winners each earned a pizza party and/or a bag of prizes for each student.  

“We are so excited to be this year’s winners of the Power Pledge Challenge,” says Dykstra. “I have enjoyed these presentations from REAP in my classroom for the last few years, and they align perfectly with our Energy unit. I am thankful for the funding to purchase hands-on, engaging materials and labs for my current and future students!”

The winning classes are: 

  • Statewide Winner: Jon Dykstra’s 3rd period class at Hanshew Middle School
  • Anchorage Regional Winner: Joanna Hubbard’s 2nd period class at Mears Middle School
  • Juneau Regional Winner: Jodi Levernier’s Advisory at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School
  • Mat-Su and Eagle River Regional Winner: Mayme Troutman’s 3rd period at Palmer Junior Middle School
  • Interior Regional Winner: Eamon O’Regan’s 3rd period at Pearl Creek Elementary (Fairbanks)
  • Lower Kuskokwim Regional Winner: Larisa Pauza’s 1st period class at Nelson Island School (Toksook Bay)
  • Bering Strait Regional Winner: Jessica Smyke’s 3rd period class at Anvil City Science Academy (Nome)

The Power Pledge Challenge began in 2013, offering energy presentations to students in the Anchorage area. The now statewide initiative is held through support of Alaska Electric Light & Power, Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Chugach Electric Association, City of Seward, Golden Valley Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, Kawerak Inc, Nome Joint Utility Systems, Matanuska Electric Association, and Renewable Energy Alaska Project.

By Colleen FiskDecember 16th, 2020

alaskaeducationenergyvirtual