More than 4,000 students from 167 middle school classrooms around the state participated in the 2019 Power Pledge Challenge, an initiative aimed at helping youth better understand their energy use. Students received a presentation about electricity from an educator or partner, and then went online to complete a survey and make a pledge to reduce their energy use. Completion of the pledge entered their class into the competition for both regional and state prizes.
This year’s campaign covered the largest geographic area of the challenge to date – presentations were given to students in Anchorage, Mat-Su/Eagle River, Kenai/Homer, Seward, Nome, Fairbanks, White Mountain, Eek, Brevig Mission, and Kwigillingok. Utilities and organizations around the state hosted the challenge as part of Energy Awareness Month, recognized every year in October. In the challenge, the students completed the Be an Energy Star lesson from AK EnergySmart, learned how to calculate the cost of appliance use, and discovered ways to reduce their energy use at home. Students then conducted an online home energy audit with their families, and pledged to reduce their energy use by identifying specific actions they would take.
Keane Richards’ 3rd period science class at Anvil City Science Academy in Nome is the 2019 statewide winner. The class will be awarded a pizza party, energy related classroom materials worth $2,400, and a tour of the Nome Power Plant. Amanda Toerdal, the Energy Development Specialist for Kawerak, Inc, said “The Power Pledge Challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn about how their own behavior affects their home energy use, as well as learn about the world of energy around them. REAP staff does an incredible job making energy education fun and relatable to young people. I really loved seeing students in the Bering Strait Region get involved and excited about energy this year. Kawerak was happy to help spread the word about this awesome opportunity and we are very excited that a classroom from our region took the state prize. Great job, kids!” Ten regional winners each earned a pizza party and/or a tour of a local power plant.
The winning classes are:
- Statewide Winner: Keane Richards’ 3rd period science class from Anvil City Science Academy
- Anchorage Regional Winner: Ben Walker’s 1st period science class from Romig Middle School
- Mat-Su/Eagle River Regional Winner: Renee Jilka’s 3rd period class from Greuning Middle School
- Juneau Regional Winner: Benjamin Douglas’ 4th period class from Dzantik’I Heeni Middle School
- Homer/Kenai Regional Winner: Natalie Tews’ 2nd period class from Kenai Middle School
- Fairbanks Regional Winner: Cat Kershner’s 4th period class from Randy Smith Middle School
- AVEC Regional Winner: Olivia Muntz’s class from Eek School
- City of Seward Regional Winner: Clay Ellsworth’s class from Seward Middle School
- White Mountain Regional Winner: Jon Todd’s class from White Mountain School
- Kwigillingok: Natalie Cowley’s class from Kwigillingok School
- Nome: Keane Richards’ 4th period science class from Anvil City Science Academy
Power Pledge Challenge schools:
The Power Pledge Challenge began in 2013, offering energy presentations to 700 students in the Chugach Electric service 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, Homer Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, Municipal Light & Power, Golden Valley Electric Association, Nome Joint Utility System, Kawerak Inc., White Mountain City Utilities, Kwig Power Company, and Renewable Energy Alaska Project. Learn more about the Challenge here. You can see the “Be an Energy Star” lesson used in the Challenge on our 6-8 lesson plan page here.