AGAWAM – Each year, Eversource offers a challenge to local students to think of ways to conserve energy. Schools from across Western Massachusetts and the surrounding community are invited to participate. James Clark Elementary School accepted the challenge and through various projects, showed Eversource their energy conservation knowledge.

Six students at James Clark Elementary School in Agawam placed in the Eversource Challenge. The students will find out during an upcoming banquet whether they placed in first, second or third for their respective grades.

Kindergartners Yllka Ademi and Diana Rushachak, third graders Johanaliz Lopez and Charlotte Latulippe and fourth graders Tony Parrelli and Addison Podworski will attend the awards banquet alongside their families and teachers to see which place their projects earned them. The winners will receive Amazon gift cards. The first place prize is a $400 gift card, a $250 gift card for second place and a $100 gift card for third place.

The Eversource Challenge is a program open to students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade whose communities are served by Eversource Energy. Challenges are based on each grade and can range from poster making to building an energy plan.

James Clark Elementary STEAM teacher Tammy Rumplik shared, “The kindergartners made posters to encourage good energy choices or even reminders to recycle. Grade 3 wrote limericks about saving energy at home and school. Grade 4 designed billboards about using electric cars, recycling and saving energy. They also had to write persuasive paragraphs to go with their billboard design.”

According to the Eversource website, “Judges base their decisions on the use of accurate and scientific facts, creativity, readability, persuasiveness, originality and appearance.”

“It felt amazing to have so many kids win the challenge. Of course, I wish each and every one of my students could win, but it was definitely nice to have so many be recognized for their hard work. I am very proud of them,” Rumplik shared.

For more information on the Eversource Challenge, visit www.eversourceinschool.com/challenge/.