Press Release
Students from Lynbrook, Mineola, Oyster Bay-East Norwich, Sayville, Smithtown, Three Village, West Islip and William Floyd School Districts Win PSEG Long Island’s Video PSA Contest
(UNIONDALE, N.Y. — May 20, 2022) With much energy and excitement, PSEG Long Island announced the student winners of its video public service announcement (PSA) contest promoting environmental awareness yesterday.
Nearly 5,000 students in fourth through 12th grade took part in the eco-friendly coursework this year with more than 200 videos submitted for consideration. Ten winners were named in the fourth-through-eighth-grade category and, new this year, 10 winners in the high school category were unveiled.
Hundreds of students, teachers, school administrators and participants’ parents tuned in to watch the announcement live via webinar hosted by PSEG Long Island Thursday morning.
“It’s great to see how these young environmental advocates are putting their newfound knowledge into action to protect their communities and our planet,” said Michael Voltz, PSEG Long Island’s director of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, who co-hosted the event. “Themes of solar energy use, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, recycling and cleaning up our planet were prominent. The messages in these PSAs will go a long way in creating awareness and, hopefully, action.”
“The students really set the bar at a high level with their videos this year. Their creativity and editing skills showed through in their projects,” said Suzanne Brienza, PSEG Long Island’s director of Customer Experience and Utility Marketing, who co-hosted the event. “Congratulations to all of the winners and kudos to all of the nearly 5,000 students who participated. You’re all winners because your great work is helping the world.”
The I AM EM-Powered Program and Student Challenge was created by educational consultants D. Barrett Associates. The STEM-related coursework provided lessons on energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy in alignment with current educational standards on these topics. The curriculum was also tailored for classroom, virtual learning and hybrid scenarios. Teachers could select and submit their favorite three videos to be judged by a strict grading rubric.
Sponsored by PSEG Long Island, the I AM EM-Powered Program and Student Challenge was provided free to students in the company’s service area – Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaways.
Program and contest, by the numbers:
- 3,849 4th – 8th students participated
- 1,107 high school students participated
- 110 teachers (fourth through 12th grades)
- 32 school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaways
- 177 PSA videos submitted (fourth through eighth grades)
- 32 PSA videos submitted (high school grades)
Here is a complete list of the winners:
Student(s)
|
Grade
|
Teacher
|
School
|
District
|
Lara Vardar
|
8
|
Matthew Schneck
|
Lynbrook South Middle School
|
Lynbrook Public Schools
|
Olivia Dos Santos
|
7
|
Nicole LoCurto
|
Mineola Middle School
|
Mineola Public Schools
|
Aurelia Accornero
|
5
|
Diana Hauser
|
James H. Vernon School
|
Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District
|
Zoe Nobel
|
5
|
Diana Hauser
|
James H. Vernon School
|
Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District
|
Nicolas Paleos
|
5
|
Diana Hauser
|
James H. Vernon School
|
Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District
|
GraceAnn Winter
|
5
|
Diana Hauser
|
James H. Vernon
School
|
Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District
|
Zachary Abend
|
4
|
Melinda Moran
|
Cherry Avenue Elementary
|
Sayville School District
|
Evelyn Jin
|
6
|
Sean Dowling
|
Minnesauke Elementary School
|
Three Village School District
|
Nathaniel Bellini
|
5
|
Justin DeMaio
|
Bayview Elementary School
|
West Islip School District
|
Scarlet DellUniversita
|
5
|
Justin DeMaio
|
Bayview Elementary School
|
West Islip School District
|
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM WINNERS
Student |
Teacher |
High School |
District |
Lineth A Funes Salgado |
Ting Pang |
Oyster Bay High School |
Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District |
Naomie Desilier |
Kimberly Williams |
Smithtown High School West |
Smithtown School District |
Eve Goldman |
Kimberly Williams |
Smithtown High School West |
Smithtown School District |
Nadia Mathew |
Kimberly Williams |
Smithtown High School West |
Smithtown School District |
Joseph Abbaticchio |
Amanda Huff |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
Cristy Alvarado Vazquez |
Amanda Huff |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
Jenessa Basile |
Amanda Huff |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
Nyasia Bass |
Amanda Huff |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
Lily Crawford |
Luisa McHugh |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
Nissi Flores Perez |
Luisa McHugh |
William Floyd High School |
William Floyd School District |
The 20 award-winning videos are available for viewing at youtube.com/psegli. Click the playlist titled “I Am EM-powered PSA contest winners 2022.” Also, a recording of yesterday’s announcement ceremony will be placed in the playlist.
Each winning student receives a $75 Amazon gift card. Winning teachers will get a $100 gift card. And, each classroom teacher receives a $100 Visa gift card to be used with their classroom to celebrate the students’ achievement. The 30 semifinalists in each category will also receive certificates for their achievements.
PSEG Long Island provides educational resources through its robust Community Partnership Program, which includes several educational programs for children of all ages at schools, after-school and camp programs. These shows and programs on energy conservation, electric safety and preparing for an emergency have educated tens of thousands of children. The I Am EM-Powered coursework and contest has been receiving high praise since it was added to the educational programming lineup in 2020.
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PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.