Awards & Competitions

This is the place to look for information on upcoming environmental competitions! Know of an environmental competition we need to add to this page? Please contact Mary Pat Baldauf.

Association of SC Energy Managers Energy Project of the Year Award
This award recognizes the outstanding work of an organization to improve their energy management system at their facilities by implementing measures to save energy. It also recognizes the innovative use of energy-saving technologies which improve energy efficiency and save energy dollars . To nominate a public institution, including a school district, please click http://www.energy.sc.gov/PDFs/EnergyProjectoftheYearNominationForm.pdf

Champions of the Environment
Do you have a hands-on environmental project that you need some money for? Then tell Champions of the Environment about the project and you could win a $500 grant.

This is Champions fifteenth year of providing money and recognition to outstanding environmental projects carried out by South Carolina's K-12 students and teachers. Champions is still making up to ten awards this year but, instead of making them every month, awards will be made twice a year - in October and February.

January 15 is the deadline for February awards.

The application can be filled out electronically and can be accessed from the www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/chgrant.htm. Completed applications can be returned electronically or mailed.

In celebration of Champions fifteenth year of rewarding environmental action, the first fifteen applicants each grant cycle will receive a $20 VISA gift card. And, all applicants will receive a Champions tote bag and T-shirt.

If you want to apply but don't know what to do for your environmental project, visit www.scdhec.sc.gov/environment/water/doyourpart.htm, to check out some ideas.

Champions for the Environment Environmental Awareness Competition
This competition is a way for middle school students to show off their creativity and knowledge about the natural world. This event takes place each spring.

Earth 911: Kids National Environmetal Contests/Awards for Kids
This special section of Earth 911 features national environmental contests and awards for students, sorted by grade level!

Envirothon: Accept A Natural Challenge
The Envirothon is a program for high school students to learn more about our natural environment. The spirit of competition motivates athletes, drives successful businesses and stimulates new ideas. The Envirothon tests the student's knowledge on topics such as soils, water resources, forestry, wildlife and current environmental issues.

Exploravision
Now in its 16th year, ExploraVision encourages K-12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving.

Igniting Creative Energy Challenge
Each year, Johnson Controls, the National Energy Foundation, and United States Energy Association host a nationwide competition called the Igniting Creative Energy Challenge (ICE Challenge). Three students (and guest) and one teacher (and guest) receive an all expenses paid trip to an awesome location and get to go to the Energy Forum held in Washington, D.C. Each year the challenge is kicked off in November for all K-12 schools.

Lexus and Scholastic Announce Launch of Environmental Challenge Education Program
This program is designed to educate and empower students to take action to improve the environment. The program encourages middle and high school students across the United States to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. The deadline is January 7, 2008.

SeaWorld/Busch Gardens/Fujifilm Environmental Excellence Awards
The SeaWorld/Busch Gardens/Fujifilm Environmental Excellence Awards program provides school and community groups with a monetary award, national recognition, and some well-deserved fun at one of the company's amusement parks. Eight projects will be selected to each receive: $10,000 to benefit the award-winning project; an all-expenses-paid trip for three students and one adult leader to an Anheuser-Busch theme park for a special awards event; a Fujifilm digital camera for use by the award-winning group; one hundred T-shirts to share with school and community partners; and award trophy and certificates for every student/group leader participant.

From the eight projects, one outstanding environmental educator/leader will be recognized. That educator will receive: $5,000; an all-expenses-paid trip for him- or herself and one guest to an Anheuser-Busch theme park for a special awards event; a Fujifilm digital camera; an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2008 National Science Teachers Association national conference; and an award trophy and certificate.