WHAT IS THE YOUTH AWARDS PROGRAM?



All NEED schools have outstanding classroom-based programs in which students learn about energy. Some schools have student leaders who extend these activities into their communities. To recognize outstanding achievement and reward student leadership, The NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement.

Free to participate, this program combines academic competition with recognition to acknowledge everyone involved in NEED during the year - and to recognize those who achieve excellence in energy education in their schools and communities. The students and teachers set goals and objectives, and keep a record of their activities. In April, the students combine their materials into presentations and submit them online.


COMPLETING
YOUR
PROJECT


Obtain a loose leaf binder or keep a digital file in which to compile all of the activities, work samples, photos and videos you collect along the way as you work through your project. Use these items to help create your digital slideshow in PowerPoint or other similar software. Your slideshow must be able to be saved as a PDF for uploading once complete. Make sure your slides follow this format.

Reporting and documentation is limited to the slide limits set for each type of project. Projects with excess slides will not be considered in judging.



SLIDE 1

SLIDE 2+



2 LEVELS OF ENTRY



SIGNATURE PROJECT



  • Multi-faceted outreach project that is student-driven
  • Covers several energy content areas and activities
  • Completion of a 15-slide digital slideshow that showcases goals of projects, activities completed, and results achieved
  • Projects are uploaded to the Youth Awards Project submission web site
  • Projects will be judged at the state and national levels with the opportunity to attend the National Recognition Ceremony in June
  • Special recognition may be given to projects that excel in one the following areas:
    Exemplary Community Energy Education
    Energy Engineering and Design
    School Energy Efficiency

SAMPLE SIGNATURE PROJECT

FOUNDATION PROJECT


  • Single activity outreach project that is student-driven
  • Focuses on a limited content area or set of activities
  • Completion of a 4-slide digital slideshow that showcases the goals and results of the project
  • Projects are uploaded to the Youth Awards Project submission web site
  • Projects will be recognized at the local level for outstanding efforts in the classroom and the community (Foundations Projects will not be eligible to attend the National Recognition Ceremony in June.)

SAMPLE FOUNDATION PROJECT

OPTIONAL VIDEO SUBMISSION


Groups may elect to submit video documentation with their submissions. Videos will be considered but are not required, and will be displayed throughout the National Recognition weekend and on the NEED web site.

  • Videos should be no longer than three minutes
  • Videos should be created and uploaded to YouTube for hosting
  • A link to the video must be shared when completing application information on the Youth Awards Project submission web site Programs should ensure students have completed their school’s media release documentation, if necessary

Video Example from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT



The deadline to submit projects is April 15, 2019. Projects must be uploaded to the site by this date, and projects submitted after the deadline will not be judged.

REMINDER: Save your project as a PDF for uploading to the submission site. All projects must be uploaded in PDF format. Please make sure the file name includes your school name and category (schoolname.level.pdf).




PROGRAM RESOURCES


Youth Awards Program Guide - includes information and instructions for completing a project and entering the program.

2019 Youth Awards Staff Application Download Applications
Check out the NEED blog for posts about what it's like to be a Youth Staff member.

NEED Youth Energy Leadership Award 2019
- pdf doc

2018 YOUTH AWARDS WINNERS

2018 National Winners (pdf)

Check out last years winners and view all the fantastic projects we received on our winners page.

2018 NEED YOUTH ENERGY CONFERENCE AND AWARDS


Students who participate in the Youth Awards Program and meet criteria as determined by their Lead Teacher are invited to attend the Youth Energy Conference and Awards.

The Annual NEED Youth Energy Conference and Awards gives students more opportunities to learn about energy and to explore energy in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). The annual June conference will have students from across the country working in groups on an Energy Challenge designed to stretch their minds and energy knowledge.

Check out the Youth Energy Conference page for more info!

Download 2018 Youth Awards Challenge Worksheets: Elementary Challenge, Elementary Challenge Teacher Guide, Junior Challenge, Junior Challenge Teacher Guide, Senior Challenge,Senior Challenge Teacher Guide.

SHARE WITH US!

Use #NEEDinDC to share progress shots of your Youth Awards projects and
follow us on social media to keep up to date on everything happening at NEED!


     

© 2017 The NEED Project