Update: Congratulations to the following for outstanding performance in the KY NEED Youth Awards for Energy Achievement program May 18th!

FCPS: Most Outstanding District Level

Ashland Elementary: Most Outstanding Rookie School

Dixie Elementary: Most Outstanding Primary Division

In addition to state and national recognition that schools earn from KY Green & Healthy Schools and National Energy Education Development project, Fayette County Public Schools will recognize and reward schools for their accomplishments in energy efficiency and sustainability through the E=USE2 program.

The E=USE² Challenge

The E=USE² Challenge will recognize schools that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to energy reduction through behavior changes and awareness for the previous month.  The challenge will have three categories: High Schools, Middle Schools, and Elementary Schools.

The school in each category who has demonstrated the highest commitment to energy reduction and sustainable initiatives will receive the E=USE² plaque to display in the school for a month.

E=USE² Award Program

Fayette County Public Schools is dedicated to energy efficiency and sustainable practices.  FCPS has created the E=USE² Award Program to reward E=USE² teams for their efforts in energy conservation, sustainable projects, awareness, and education.

What is the E=USE² Award Program?

Each participating E=USE² team will receive a financial award for their energy efforts.  Awards must be spent on energy and sustainable projects for your E=USE² Team.  The amount of the award will depend on the level of participation of the school and E=USE² Team.

How do schools participate?

For schools to participate in the E=USE² program, please contact FCPS Energy & Sustainability Manager Tresine Logsdon at tresine.logsdon@fayette.kyschools.us to schedule your first E=USE² meeting.

To qualify for an E=USE² Award, all applicable forms must be completed and submitted to Tresine Logsdon through the courier at 400 Springhill Drive by April 11^th 2012.

To qualify for BRONZE, E=USE2 Teams must complete the following steps by May 15th 2012:

Step 1: Team Formation

Step 2: Enerygy Assessment

Step 3: School/Community Awareness

To qualify for SILVER, E=USE2 Teams must complete the following steps by May 15th, 2012:

Steps 1-3

Step 4: School Energy Improvement Project

Step 5: STEM and our Environment

Step 6: KY NEED Youth Awards for Energy Achievement Program

To qualify for GOLD, E=USE2 Teams must complete the following steps by May 15th, 2012:

Steps 1-6

Step 7: Summary & Wrap Up: What It's All Mean To Me?

Step 8: Recognition & Celebration

Awards Program for Energy Achievement

The Kentucky NEED (National Energy Education Development) Project serves as Fayette County Public School’s energy education partner for the E=USE² program.  One component of this program is the NEED Youth Awards Program (YAP) for Energy Achievement.  The goal of this program is to recognize outstanding student leadership and student achievements in the area of energy education at the primary, elementary, middle and high school levels.

As schools and E=USE²Teams progress through the program, you will simultaneously work your way towards a NEED project and be eligible for a NEED Project Youth Award. To qualify and compete, we encourage E=USE² teams to submit a NEED project documenting the accomplishments of their team.  All Teams who submit a project to the Kentucky NEED Youth Awards Program are invited to attend the state level awards luncheon held each May in Frankfort.  Teams are also eligible to attend NEED’s national conference held in Washington, D.C. in June.

What is the NEED Youth Awards for Energy Achievement Program?

The projects should be student designed and facilitated. Students, with the support of their teachers, set energy education goals and objectives and keep a record of their activities, including photographs, newspaper articles, etc.  This documentation is due April 11^th to your FCPS Energy Manager who will then submit it to the KY NEED state coordinator.

The E=USE² program includes all required components for a school to submit a NEED Youth Award project.

Complete details with guidelines can be found on the NEED website at:  http://www.need.org/needpdf/ProjectActivities.pdf

How do student energy teams apply?

As your Team progresses through the E=USE² program, your school will complete all required components of the NEED Youth Awards program.  Teams will apply for the NEED Youth Awards Program in Step 7 of the E=USE² Program.

How are the NEED projects evaluated?

Scrapbooks are reviewed by a panel of judges based on the following criteria:

• Goal Setting                                   5
• Activities to Reach Goals        25
• Energy Content                          20
• Student Leadership                  15
• Community Involvement            5
• Use of Resources                      10
• Project Evaluation                     10
• Project Documentation            10

When are the NEED Youth Awards Project due?

April 11^th 2011 to FCPS Energy Manager.

Who is invited to attend the state awards luncheon in Frankfort?

All E=USE² students who participate in the project, conducting the activities and compiling the scrapbook are eligible to attend.  Their Team Sponsor and principal are also invited to attend.

How many teams are recognized?

All E=USE² Teams are invited to attend the state luncheon and will be recognized.  State level winners at the Primary, Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary levels, as well as district wide projects, will be announced.

Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools Awards

The Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools Program is a progressive awards program.  Schools are recognized for with up to five levels of awards:  Candidate School, School in Progress, School Under Development, Official Kentucky Green & Healthy School, and Model Green & Healthy School.

Every step of the way through the KGHS program, E=USE² Teams will be recognized and rewarded at the KGHS Summit in May.  Each E=USE² Team that participates in KGHS, regardless of how far they progress, will be invited to attend the May KGHS Summit. The summit offers students the opportunity to display their work, network with other students from across the state, share green and healthy ideas, and be recognized for their work at their schools.

As schools complete projects in each of the 9 categories in the KGHS program, they become eligible for awards.  As schools and E=USE²Teams progress through the program, you will simultaneously work your way through the KGHS program and be eligible for a KGHS Award.

KGHS Awards