The 2023 challenge ran from August to November 2023. Classes completed monthly challenges and other activities to earn points towards prizes. The class with the most points won for the entire state, and each top point earner in the region also won a prize. The statewide winner earned a pizza party, tour of a substation, and $2,000 worth of materials from NEED and Vernier to use in the classroom. Each regional winner also earned a pizza party and tour of local infrastructure, like a power plant or solar farm.

Statewide Winner: Lori Holcomb’s 5th grade class, Talkeetna Elementary

Regional Winners: 

• Anchorage/Upper Kenai:  Leola Rutherford’s 6th grade class, Girdwood K-8
• Mat-Su/Eagle River: Meghaan Blomberg’s 4th grade class, Talkeetna Elementary
• Seward: Amelia Bagheri’s 6th period science class, Seward High
• Juneau: Josef Roters’s 3rd grade class, Auke Elementary
• Interior: Marie Gore’s K-12 students, Cantwell
• Dillingham: Shannon Clouse’s 4th grade class, Dillingham Elementary
• AVEC: Mikaela Trowbridge’s 6th grade class, Gladys Jung Elementary (Bethel)

The 2022 challenge ran from September to December 2022. Classes completed monthly challenges and other activities to earn points towards prizes. The class with the most points won for the entire state, and each top point earner in the region also won a prize. The statewide winner received a tour of a power plant and pizza party plus $1,800 worth of supplies from NEED. Each regional winner also earned a pizza party and/or tour of a power plant.

Statewide Winner: Lisa Curtis, Talkeetna Elementary

Regional Winners: 

• Anchorage/Upper Kenai:  Leola Rutherford, Girdwood K-8
• Mat-Su/Eagle River: Lori Holcomb, Talkeetna Elementary
• Gateway: Bonnie Dompierre, Tok School
• Southeast: Amber Brewer, Auke Elementary (Juneau)
• Interior: Eamon O’Regan, Pearl Creek Elementary
• Bering Strait: Kara Sponsler, Koyuk Malemiut School
• Cordova: Lance Westing, Cordova Jr/Sr High School

The 2021 competition ran most of the school year, from September 2021 to the end of April 2022. Classes completed monthly challenges and other activities to earn points towards prizes. The class with the most points won for the entire state, and each top point earner in the region also won a prize. The statewide winner received a tour of a power plant and pizza party plus $1,800 worth of supplies from NEED. Each regional winner also earned a pizza party and/or tour of a power plant.

Statewide Winner: Leola Rutherford, Girdwood K-8 School

Regional Winners: 

• Anchorage: Ian Dickson, Northern Lights ABC School
• Mat-Su/Eagle River: Lisa Curtis, Talkeetna Elementary
• Juneau: Amber Brewer, Auke Bay Elementary
• Interior: Jen Graham, Tri Valley School (Healy)
• Lower Kuskokwim: Caitlin Tully, Nelson Island School (Tooksook Bay)
• Bering Strait: Kara Sponslor, Koyuk School

• Cordova: Lance Westing, Cordova Jr/Sr High School

In 2020, classes could receive a virtual or in person presentation or participate on their own using pre-recorded videos with activity instructions. Students then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions. The state prize was a tour of a power plant, a pizza party, and supplies from NEED worth $1,800. Each regional winner also got a tour of a power plant and/or a pizza party.

Statewide Winner: Jon Dykstra, Hanshew Middle School in Anchorage

Regional Winners: 

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

In 2019, students received a lesson on electricity use and how to use less energy. They then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions. The state prize was a tour of a power plant, a pizza party, and supplies from NEED worth $1,800. Each regional winner also got a tour of a power plant and/or a pizza party.

Statewide Winner: Keane Richards, Anvil City Science Academy in Nome

Regional Winners:

• Anchorage: Ben Walker’s 1st Period, Romig Middle School
• Mat-Su/Eagle River: Renee Jilka’s 3rd Period, Greuning Middle School
• Juneau: Benjamin Douglas’ 4th Period, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School
• Homer/Kenai: Natalie Tews’ 2nd Period, Kenai Middle School
• Fairbanks: Cat Kershner’s 4th Period, Randy Smith Middle School
• AVEC: Olivia Muntz, Eek School
• Seward: Clay Ellsworth, Seward Middle School
• White Mountain: Jon Todd, White Mountain School
• Kwigillingok: Natalie Cowley, Kwigillingok School
• Nome: Keane Richards, Anvil City Science Academy

In 2018, students received a lesson on electricity use and how to use less energy. They then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions. The state prize was a tour of a power plant, a pizza party, and supplies from NEED worth $1,700. Each regional winner also got a tour of a power plant and/or a pizza party.

State: Susan Tifental’s 3rd period class @ Hanshew Middle School, Anchorage

Regional:

• Mat-Su/Eagle River (MEA Area): David Knopp’s 6th period class @ Teeland Middle School
• Anchorage (Chugach/ML&P area): Carole McKee’s 2nd period class @ Northern Lights ABC School
• Juneau (AEL&P area): James White’s 4th period class @ Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School
• Kenai Peninsula (HEA area): Patrick Dwyer’s 6th period class @ Skyview Middle School
• Seward (City of Seward area): Clay Ellsworth’s 6th period class @ Seward Middle School

In 2017, students received a lesson on electricity use and how to use less energy. They then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions. The state prize was a tour of a power plant, a pizza party, and supplies from NEED worth $1,200. Each regional winner also got a tour of a power plant and/or pizza party. Chugiak-Eagle River Star article here and Juneau Empire article here.

State: Johanna Tennant’s 6th period class @ Palmer Junior Middle School

Regional:

• Mat-Su/Eagle River (MEA Area): Brad Kirr’s 3rd period class @ Gruening Middle School
• Anchorage (Chugach/ML&P area): Mitra Shanhazarian’s 6th period class @ Mears Middle School
• Juneau (AEL&P area): Kevin Hamrick’s 1st period class @ Floyd Dryden Middle School
• Kenai Peninsula (HEA area): Joanna Greene’s 1st period class @ McNeil Canyon Elementary School

In 2016, students received a lesson on electricity use and how to use less energy. They then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions. Each region (Mat-Su/Eagle River, Anchorage, and Juneau) sponsored a pizza party and power plant tour. The state prize was an ice cream party with First Lady Donna Walker and the teacher won $800 towards energy curriculum and supplies. You can read about it in the Frontiersman article here.

State: Mayme Troutman’s 4th period science @ Wasilla Middle School

Regional:

• Mat-Su/Eagle River (MEA area): David Knopp’s 2nd period science @ Teeland Middle School
• Anchorage (Chugach/ML&P area): Carol McKee’s 3rd period science @Northern Lights ABC
• Juneau (AEL&P area): Chris Heidemann’s 2nd period science @ Floyd Dryden Middle School

In 2015, students received a lesson on electricity use and how to use less energy. They then completed online pledges for three things they would do to use less energy. Winners were picked by randomly selecting responses from each of the regions.

State: Ben Walker’s 3rd period science @ Romig Middle School
Mat-Su/Eagle River (MEA area): Robin Mullican 4th period science @ Palmer Junior Middle School
Anchorage (Chugach/ML&P area): Lauren O’Connor’s 4th period science @ Hanshew Middle School

2014 had a different format where the cost of savings from pledges was calculated.  Anchorage was also the only participating region.  The top three teams won LED bulbs and the first place team was awarded a pizza party. The first, second and third place classroom teachers earned educational energy efficiency materials valued up to $1,000, $750 and $500, respectively, for their schools.

1st Place: Ben Walker, Romig Middle School

2nd Place: Carolyn Rudzinski, Romig Middle School

3rd Place: Katherine Schroeder, Mears Middle School

In 2013, PPC was called “Watt’s Up or Down” and three schools participated: Goldenview Middle School (Anchorage), Begich Middle School (Anchorage), and Tebughna School (Tyonek). You can read the press release here. The top three classes were:

1st Place: Team Zogawatt, Mr. Noah Zogas’ 7th grade team

2nd Place: Watts Going Down, Ms. Kendra Miller-Jones’ 8th grade team

3rd Place: Electric Sliders, Ms. Ann Lynn’s 8th grade team