Three Wake Schools Win National Recognition

Many Wake County schools have classroom-based programs in which students learn about energy. Many schools have teacher and student leaders who extend their activities to other students, their families, and communities. To recognize outstanding achievement and reward student leadership, the NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement. Many schools participating in NEED's programs submit reports on their energy activities. A national review panel evaluates the schools reports and chooses the state and national winners. This year's NEED Youth Awards Review Panel included judges from Dominion, Energy Information Administration and U.S. Department of Energy. Awards are given to the winner and runner-up in the elementary, junior and senior levels; and rookie awards are given at each level for schools in their first year of the NEED program.

NEED's "Kids Teaching Kids" approach encourages students to teach their peers and communities about energy in fun and innovative ways. These students are sharing their energy knowledge with their communities and leading the way toward changing the world.

In 1980, the NEED Project began as a one-day celebration of energy education. A joint Congressional Resolution established National Energy Education Day. A Presidential Proclamation from President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the need for comprehensive energy education in our nation's schools, a reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels, and increasing use of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. Today, twenty-eight years later, the same message holds true.