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Elementary school students create t-shirt designs to show their favorite way to save energy

April 15, 2013–The 2013 Green Energy Challenge, a free GEF program sponsored by National Grid, called on students across New York to submit artwork for the Green Energy Challenge t-shirt contest. The contest asked students to draw their favorite way to save energy.

Hundreds of drawings were submitted from schools across the state and were narrowed down to just four. Thousands of National Grid employees then voted to determine the winner.

Madison Homer clenched the  New York region prize with  this submission

Madison Homer, a fourth grade student from Onondaga Nation School of Nedrow, New York received the most votes for her design, shown left. The lucky artist’s entire school will receive t-shirts featuring her winning design and a $250 donation for her efforts.

Her teacher, Nancy Powless explained how she told Madison that she had won, “I announced at the opening of school to Maddy, and the entire school, that she had been entered and won the design contest through the Green Education Foundation and National Grid. She was shocked, surprised and happy. The entire school gave a big cheer for her. I threw confetti and glitter...it was very festive! We are all so proud of her.”

“National Grid takes our commitment to the environment very seriously,” said Ken Daly, President, National Grid, New York. “The Green Energy Challenge t-shirt contest is a terrific way to highlight for our youth the importance of how each and every one of us can reduce our carbon footprint and take important steps that will make our lives a little greener.”

The winning designs will be worn by National Grid employees on Earth Day (April 22) 2013 and posted on GEF's website.

Victoria Waters, CEO at GEF, noted the significance of this year’s contest: This fun and educational contest created a lot of momentum around the importance of conservation measures. When students understand the basics of sustainability they become even more passionate and curious, leading to long lasting, sustainable lifestyle choices.”

Runners-up in 2013 Energy Challenge t-shirt contest are Allie Van Rossem, Dylan Pare, Fuka Ikeda, Kaitlen Darcy, Samer Khanji, and Troy Nicotra.

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About Green Education Foundation (GEF)

Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a non-profit organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education. Sustainability education provides educators with the real-world applied learning models that connect science, technology, and math education with the broader human concerns of environmental, economic, and social systems. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging them to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions.

Become a member for free to gain full access to GEF’s comprehensive library of standards-based lessons and activities at www.greeneducationfoundation.org. Join the sustainability education conversation by following GEF on Twitter @greenedufdn and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greenedufoundation.

NATIONAL GRID

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up’.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com.

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