Elementary school receives state, national energy education award
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb Academy Elementary School was announced as a national award winner for the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project’s 33rd Annual Youth Awards for Energy Achievement at a special ceremony May 6 at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.
Lipscomb Academy Elementary School was named Primary Level School of the Year by a national awards review panel, representing various aspects of the energy industry and education sector. Academy officials will be officially recognized at the NEED recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., June 21-24.
This is the second national award the school has received in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Lipscomb Academy Elementary School was named a 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.
“Our students are learning from a very early age how to care for the world around them,” said L. Randolph Lowry, president of Lipscomb University. “Care for the environment is a focus that is integrated into the culture at Lipscomb Academy Elementary School. I am proud of the hard work of the students and teachers who are a part of this program. They are great examples for us all.”
In addition to the national award, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs named the elementary school Primary School of the Year by at its annual Energy Education Awards ceremony. The primary school category recognizes schools with kindergarten through second grade programs.
“The Tennessee Youth Awards for Energy Achievement are designed to recognize students and teachers who conducted projects to educate their peers and communities about energy efficiency and conservation,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. “The efforts these students and teachers have put forth are helping educate their communities on the importance of energy conservation and ensuring future generations share in their commitment for a cleaner energy future.”
Ginger Reasonover, science coordinator for the elementary school, said this recognition helps validate the program that is in place.
“We are so excited about this honor and so happy for our students,” said Reasonover, “This award commends what we are doing to conserve and use energy wisely. We have strategically worked with our students to learn more about sources of energy along with giving them lab experiences to help them learn more about its role in our lives and how it works.”
Lipscomb Academy Elementary School is quickly becoming a model for other schools. In 2012, the school’s third-graders earned first-place honors in Tennessee as part of Disney’s Planet Challenge. Lipscomb Academy was the eighth-ranked elementary school in the nation out of 1,900 schools entering the contest nationwide. Last year the school also received the 2012 SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Award in its category along with a $10,000 grant to help fund an environmental initiative at the school in recognition of its School Children’s Recycling Action Program (SCRAP). The school was also named Tennessee’s 2011 Recycling School of the Year. In 2009, the school received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Green Schools - K-12.
“We believe we have a good program,” said Reasonover. “These awards just help reaffirm that. But, even if we never received any recognition we would still do what we are doing because it’s just who we are.”
About Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
With more than 2,900 employees working across the state, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is a diverse and dynamic department, serving the state by (1) safeguarding the health and safety of Tennessee citizens from environmental hazards; (2) protecting and improving the quality of Tennessee's land, air and water; and (3) managing Tennessee’s 54 state parks, 83 natural areas and a variety of historical or archaeological sites. For more information about the department, please visit www.tn.gov/environment.
About National Energy Education Development Project
The mission of the National Energy Education Development Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. NEED works with energy companies, agencies and organizations to bring balanced energy programs to the nation's schools with a focus on strong teacher professional development, timely and balanced curriculum materials, signature program capabilities and turn-key program management.