Executive Council
Education and Early Childhood Development
June 24, 2015

Supporting Programs That Benefit Children and Families

Contest Rewards HotShots at Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Three groups of students province-wide will receive iPads for themselves and their schools by proving they�re HotShots at energy efficiency and conservation. The Honourable Dan Crummell, in his capacity as Minister Responsible for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, today announced that students from Menihek High School in Labrador City, St. Paul�s Junior High in St. John�s, and Xavier Junior High School in Deer Lake are winners of the HotShots contest for students. Individual names of the winners may be found in the backgrounder below.

�We developed the HotShots initiative to ensure students throughout our province are equipped with the necessary knowledge to become energy efficiency ambassadors. I would like to congratulate all of the intermediate and high school students who developed inspiring and creative entries to help raise awareness about the importance of saving energy.�
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The contest was designed in partnership with the takeCHARGE program and was part of a broader initiative to raise awareness about energy efficiency and conservation among students, which included the distribution of information packs to all public schools, the delivery of classroom presentations, a complementary contest for primary and elementary students and the launch of a new curriculum-based website for teachers.

�We are thrilled to conclude the HotShots initiative by receiving so many creative and inspiring contest entries from students throughout the province. Students have the power to be agents of change in their communities. By educating students on the importance of energy efficiency, we are inspiring innovation and supporting actions that will help conserve our natural resources for future generations.�
- The Honourable Derek Dalley, Acting Minister of Education

Through this contest, students in grades seven to 12 were invited to submit projects that demonstrate the importance of saving energy in a way that would resonate with their peers. A total of 69 entries were received, including videos, posters, books, presentations and songs. Students could compete as individuals or in groups of up to five students.

�By partnering with the Provincial Government on the HotShots initiative, we have been able to significantly expand the takeCHARGE school program and reach more students throughout the province. This is important because by engaging our young people in a fun and meaningful way about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation and their role in it, we inspire them to be catalysts for positive change now and in the future.�
- Dawn Dalley, Vice President, Corporate Relations & Customer Service, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

An additional 34 entries were received from students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 as part of a complementary contest completed earlier in the school year. The Provincial Government and the takeCHARGE program also delivered a total of 448 presentations in 106 schools throughout the province, reaching over 11,000 students with messages about energy efficiency and conservation.

�The students who participated in this contest did an outstanding job of helping to raise awareness about the importance of saving energy. I would like to applaud all of the students on the creativity and enthusiasm they demonstrated through participating in this contest.�
- Jocelyn Perry, Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Newfoundland Power

For information on the contest, visit www.hotshotnl.ca .

QUICK FACTS:

• Three groups of students province-wide have been named winners of the HotShots contest for students grades seven to 12.
• Winners are from Menihek High School in Labrador City, St. Paul�s Junior High in St. John�s, and Xavier Junior High School in Deer Lake. Each winner will receive an iPad for themselves and 10 iPads for their school.
• The HotShots contest for students is a partnership of the Provincial Government and the takeCHARGE program. It required students to creatively communicate messages about saving energy in a way that would resonate with their peers, with entries including videos, posters, books, presentations and songs.
• takeCHARGE is a joint initiative between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Newfoundland Power aimed at providing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with information, tools and programs to assist them in using energy wisely.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Jennifer Collingwood Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 709-729-2575, 689 8605 JenniferCollinwood@gov.nl.ca	Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca
Karen McCarthy Manager, Customer and Corporate Relations Newfoundland Power 709.725.6419 kmccarthy@newfoundlandpower.com	Susanne Hiller Senior Communications Advisor Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro 709-733-5271, 727-0989 SusanneHiller@nlh.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
HotShots Contest Winners

Three contest winners were selected, with each member of the winning group receiving an iPad as well as 10 iPads for their school. The winning submissions were:

• Sean Henderson, Emma Byrne, Gavin Hamel and Makaila Hudson from Menihek high School in Labrador City;
• Julie McEachren, Julia Ball, Phoebe McNeil, Jenna Burry and Desirae Major from Xavier Junior High School in Deer Lake; and
• Sarah Muzychka and Tomas Muzychka from St. Paul�s Junior High in St. John�s

2015 06 24                            2:45 p.m.