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E.C. Best students Kevin Aguilera, left, Jessica Navarette, Mayra Alvarado and Dani Whooley (not pictured) are recognized by Councilman Bob Erickson, representing the city of Fallon, for their project that researched Portugal's energy processes. The students were victorious against over 200 teams across the nation and earned a trip to Italy to Enel headquarters.
Four sixth graders from E.C.Best Elementary School will have their chance to walk in history's foot steps, make some history of their own and enjoy a slice of pie or two after winning a trip to Italy.
The team participated in a national PlayEnergy competition sponsored by Enel. Their departure date hasn't been confirmed.
“The competition came down to our winners from Fallon and Snyder, Texas,” said Hank Sennott, Enel North America's director of external relations and communications.
Both projects were shipped to their North American corporate headquarters in Andover, Mass., for the final judging to determine the grand prize winner.
“I was real excited to make the call and let the kids at E.C. Best know they are the first North American winners in the history of our company to go to Italy,” Sennott said.
He also recognized their teacher, Kristina Murphy, who incorporated PlayEnergy into her science curriculum and for encouraging her students to get involved.
“I was actually at Disneyland when I got the call from the school secretary saying that they won,” Murphy said. “All these perfect strangers probably thought I was nuts because I started calling everybody, Oh my gosh, guess what just happened!”
Team members Jessica Navarette, Kevin Aguilera, Dani Whooley and Mayra Alvarado were awarded the grand prize for their project that researched Portugal's energy processes after competing against more than 200 other fifth-and sixth-graders in U.S. communities whose schools have adopted Enel's PlayEnergy program as part of their science curriculum.
“We feel pretty special,” said Myra. “This is Fallon, and we're never on the map.”
According to Kevin, he is really looking forward to eating some real pizza.
E.C. Best Principal Keith Boone said he was extremely proud of the students.
“They're representing Fallon, Nevada, and the United States, and they had the opportunity to put together a project that incorporated math, science and social studies and then promote the project and sell it,” Boone said. “It's a great thing for our school district and for E.C. Best.”
Representatives from the school district, city, county and state commended the four students, their teacher and the school district for their involvement in the project. Councilman Bob Erickson, representing the mayor and city of Fallon, said Mayor Ken Tedford Jr., who was out of town, really enjoys honoring the youth of our community when they excel. He, along with representatives from the offices of Congressman Dean Heller, Sen. John Ensign, Sen. Harry Reid, Gov. Jim Gibbons plus Churchill County Manager Brad Goetsch and Churchill County Commissioner Norm Frey presented the winners with certificates and other kudos for their efforts.
‘We're already providing energy for half a million people and not many people realize that,” Frey said. “Enel is a participant in our community, and you students are a reflection of that participation. You are doing a great job of shining for our community. You can go on to great things and do great things, and I'm sure that you will.”
The PlayEnergy Program is designed for students between the ages of 10 and 12 and provides teachers with tools to educate their students about renewable energy and how renewable energy plants work. Students learn about the energy courses of solar, geothermal and wind plants as well as energy-related vocabulary and terminology.
Students and teachers are given access to science and energy experiments, interesting facts from around the world and activities to be developed in the classroom, as well as having expert guest speakers from Enel.
The 2010 PlayEnergy Contest called “On the Tracks of Energy” challenged students to research the energy and sustainability processes, resources and characteristics of a different country and creatively display their findings. Entries varied from display boards, websites, videos, written reports, PowerPoint presentations, replicas and models.
Students also have the ability to actively share discoveries and ideas with an international community via Enel's PlayEnergy website http://www.enel.com.
The team participated in a national PlayEnergy competition sponsored by Enel. Their departure date hasn't been confirmed.
“The competition came down to our winners from Fallon and Snyder, Texas,” said Hank Sennott, Enel North America's director of external relations and communications.
Both projects were shipped to their North American corporate headquarters in Andover, Mass., for the final judging to determine the grand prize winner.
“I was real excited to make the call and let the kids at E.C. Best know they are the first North American winners in the history of our company to go to Italy,” Sennott said.
He also recognized their teacher, Kristina Murphy, who incorporated PlayEnergy into her science curriculum and for encouraging her students to get involved.
“I was actually at Disneyland when I got the call from the school secretary saying that they won,” Murphy said. “All these perfect strangers probably thought I was nuts because I started calling everybody, Oh my gosh, guess what just happened!”
Team members Jessica Navarette, Kevin Aguilera, Dani Whooley and Mayra Alvarado were awarded the grand prize for their project that researched Portugal's energy processes after competing against more than 200 other fifth-and sixth-graders in U.S. communities whose schools have adopted Enel's PlayEnergy program as part of their science curriculum.
“We feel pretty special,” said Myra. “This is Fallon, and we're never on the map.”
According to Kevin, he is really looking forward to eating some real pizza.
E.C. Best Principal Keith Boone said he was extremely proud of the students.
“They're representing Fallon, Nevada, and the United States, and they had the opportunity to put together a project that incorporated math, science and social studies and then promote the project and sell it,” Boone said. “It's a great thing for our school district and for E.C. Best.”
Representatives from the school district, city, county and state commended the four students, their teacher and the school district for their involvement in the project. Councilman Bob Erickson, representing the mayor and city of Fallon, said Mayor Ken Tedford Jr., who was out of town, really enjoys honoring the youth of our community when they excel. He, along with representatives from the offices of Congressman Dean Heller, Sen. John Ensign, Sen. Harry Reid, Gov. Jim Gibbons plus Churchill County Manager Brad Goetsch and Churchill County Commissioner Norm Frey presented the winners with certificates and other kudos for their efforts.
‘We're already providing energy for half a million people and not many people realize that,” Frey said. “Enel is a participant in our community, and you students are a reflection of that participation. You are doing a great job of shining for our community. You can go on to great things and do great things, and I'm sure that you will.”
The PlayEnergy Program is designed for students between the ages of 10 and 12 and provides teachers with tools to educate their students about renewable energy and how renewable energy plants work. Students learn about the energy courses of solar, geothermal and wind plants as well as energy-related vocabulary and terminology.
Students and teachers are given access to science and energy experiments, interesting facts from around the world and activities to be developed in the classroom, as well as having expert guest speakers from Enel.
The 2010 PlayEnergy Contest called “On the Tracks of Energy” challenged students to research the energy and sustainability processes, resources and characteristics of a different country and creatively display their findings. Entries varied from display boards, websites, videos, written reports, PowerPoint presentations, replicas and models.
Students also have the ability to actively share discoveries and ideas with an international community via Enel's PlayEnergy website http://www.enel.com.
