Branford Student Wins Award at 10th Annual eesmarts™ Student Contest Ceremony

Energize Connecticut, in partnership with Connecticut Light & Power and the United Illuminating Company, announced the winners of its tenth annual eesmarts™ Student Contest during a special ceremony held at the State Capitol on Thursday, June 5.

The contest gives Connecticut students in grades K-12 the opportunity to showcase their “energy smarts” about energy-saving, renewable energy, and sustainability through various media forms. This year’s contest received more than 900 submissions, and the 39 finalists represented 15 cities and towns across the state.

This year’s ceremony attracted more than 100 students, parents and energy efficiency supporters in celebration of the students’ hard work. Robert Klee, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), along with State Senators, State Representatives and representatives from Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating were in attendance to congratulate the winners. NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Bob Maxon served as Master of Ceremonies.

“The future of energy efficiency and clean energy in Connecticut depends on the understanding and innovation of our youth,” said Klee. “It is a pleasure to see the projects that these students developed, all of which demonstrate a great deal of creativity and environmentally-conscious thinking.”

Students in grades K-8 answered grade-level specific prompts in the form of 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).

Students in Grades 9-12 competed in the “Power of Change” award category where they propose a community-based project to address an energy-related issue. Students were allowed to compete in groups in this category, and winners’ schools will receive funding to make their proposed project a reality.

The “Power of Change” category was created in collaboration with Connecticut-based foundations Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Hampshire Foundation, and the Common Sense Fund. The eesmarts program provides grants of $1,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place, with the foundations matching these grant levels.

For all grade levels, first prize winners receive a $400 Amazon Gift Card, second prize winners receive a $250 Amazon Gift Card, and third prize winners receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

This year’s winners included:

Kindergarten

First: Zairah Farid, Salma K. Farid Academy, Hamden

Second: Cali Purcaro, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Paige Keough, St. Martha School, Enfield

First Grade

First: Nathaniel Goldschmidt, University of Hartford Magnet School, West Hartford

Second: Zoe Miller, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Aliza Ali, Salma K. Farid Academy, Hamden

Second Grade

First: Salma J. Farid, Salma K. Farid Academy, Hamden

Second: Joshau Eckel, St. Martha School, Enfield

Third: Gianna Gilmore, St. Martha School, Enfield

Third Grade

First: Lauren Konefal, John Lyman Elementary School, Middlefield

Second: Victor Bazinet, CREC International Magnet School, South Windsor

Third: Yash Bhandari, Newfield Elementary, Stamford

Honorable Mention: Trinayaan Hariharan, CREC International Magnet School, South Windsor

Fourth Grade

First: Paige Brooks, Worthington Hooker Middle School, New Haven

Second: Angelina Landolfi, Worthington Hooker Middle School, New Haven

Third: Karina McMahon, Burr Elementary School, Fairfield

Fifth Grade

First: Faiz Farooqui, Helen Street School, Hamden

Second: Yann Calderwood, Francis Walsh Intermediate School, Branford

Third: Kaleigh Spencer, Barkhamsted School, Barkhamsted

Sixth Grade

First: Brendan McMahon, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield

Second: Bryce Coudriet, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Elizabeth Terry, John Winthrop School, Bridgeport

Seventh Grade

First: Caroline Landry, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Enfield

Second: Michael Gingras, John Winthrop Middle School, Deep River

Third: Nihal Wadhwa, Hillcrest Middle School, Trumbull

Eighth Grade

First: Joey Persechino, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Second: Kelsi Page, St. Peter/St. Francis School, Torrington

Third: Jacob Spell, St. Aedan-St. Brendan Catholic School, New Haven

Honorable Mention: Michael McMahon, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield

High School Grades 9-12 (Power of Change winners)

First: Shravan Wadhwa, Trumbull High School, Trumbull

Second: Anuj Sisodiya, Trumbull High School, Trumbull

Third: (Team) Charles Kuchenbrod, Matt Cohen, David Lagace, Jeremy Ray & Katelyn Rutty; Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science, Hartford

Honorable Mention: (Team) Jenny Tang, Janaya Boddie & Seeya Sodani; Academy of Aerospace and Engineering High School, Hartford

For more information about the contest, please visit www.eesmarts.com/contest. 

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