2024 YOUTH AWARD PROJECT SUBMISSIONS

NEED is honored to recognize amazing students, teachers, and program leaders for their great work in energy education and community outreach each year. Winning projects reflect energy knowledge gains, energy outreach, community involvement, and student leadership.

 State Award Winner

 National Award Winner

 Outstanding Project Recognition

2025 Junior IL
St. John the Baptist Catholic School
Winfield, IL

Powering Up School with Energy Education

Project Advisors

Scott Valenta

Student Advisors

Francis Roldan, Cesar Pena

Awards

View Project
2025 Junior IL
Winfield Central School
Winfield, IL

Winfield Energy Club 2024-2025

Project Advisors

Cori Nelson

Student Advisors

Quin Tibble

Awards

View Project
2025 Junior IL
The Avery Coonley School
Downers Grove, IL

Forest Air Watch: Student Led Air Quality Study

Project Advisors

Kenny Bae

Student Advisors

Dilan, Muhammad, Lucas, Dean, Henry, Niam, Sierra, and Zayd

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary PA
Afton Elementary
Yardley, PA

Afton Elementary Project Energy

Project Advisors

Kristin Slota

Student Advisors

Ethan Moses, Keshav Dave, Maddie Behme, Caitlin Castner

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary LA
A Different World Academy
Gretna, LA

Lost Kids Mardi Gras Solar House

Project Advisors

Lorenza Lawless

Student Advisors

Aubrie Royal, Jaxson Carter, Bryson Spurlock

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary MD
Northview Elementary School
Bowie, MD

Spread the Word: Energy is Everywhere!

Project Advisors

Adebisi Babayemi

Student Advisors

Allie Baker, Hannah Armstrong, Henry Frazer, Chidima Ozar, Oluwakorde Fawehinmi

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary NC
Irving Park Elementary
Greensboro, NC

Making Connections at IPE

Project Advisors

Tracee Weathersby

Student Advisors

Amiyah Spinks, Alexis Ksor

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary KY
Rise STEM Academy for Girls
Lexington, KY

Rise Cafeteria Cleanup

Project Advisors

Kristen Witt

Student Advisors

Nia Twyman, Monica Perez Maciel, Audrey Rucker, Lena Naito, Da'Liyah Newby, Fatou Cham, Maya Bussell, Olivia Guillaume, Talea Shelton, Lavee Shelton, Marley Murray, Eliana T

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary KY
Maryville Elementary
Louisville, KY

MES Water Savers

Project Advisors

Emily Berryman

Student Advisors

Leevi Upton ,Sydney Curtsinger, JoJo Hughes, Jazmyn Logsdon

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary CA
Urbita Elementary
San Bernardino, CA

Earthsavers Are Energy Minded!

Project Advisors

Andrea Schindler

Student Advisors

Daniela Perez, Kendra Delgadillo, Molly Meraz, Emily Ramirez, Juliana Sendry, Meilani Parra, Noah Salmeron, Nathan Vasquez Almaraz, Isabella Martinez, Anna Oliva, Victoria Hernandez

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary VA
Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary
Vienna, VA

Rethink green: Rethink recycling

Project Advisors

Samantha Danielli

Student Advisors

Isabella Baruffi, Willow Losick, Mia-Celie Durocher, Gemma Isokpehi, Benjamin Bottcher, Summer Bottcher

Awards

View Project
2025 Elementary FL
Morningside Elementary
Port St Lucie, FL

Bringing our A game!

Project Advisors

Mollie Mukhamedov

Student Advisors

Olivia Salmon

Awards

View Project

Youth Awards Resources

Project Guidelines

Information about starting and finishing your project, formatting and presentation, adding a video, and submitting your work.

Project Guidelines

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about the Youth Awards, project submissions, and participation.

FAQS

Program Guide

Full information about the Youth Awards in convenient e-publication or .pdf download format.

Program Guide
Group of students around a Youth Awards poster

The Youth Awards Program is great for all schools—new to energy education, or veteran. Projects and outreach completed for the program provide opportunity for enrichment and engagement, as well as an opportunity for your students, classroom, and school to shine.

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 this leadership, The NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement. 

Learn More About the Awards