FPL Awards Renewable Energy Grants To Teachers

• By Mike Hohenbrink
• 03/15/12

The Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has awarded $39,000 in grants to Florida teachers as part of the 2012 Renewable Energy Teacher Grant program.

The awards, which range from $500 up to $3,000, will help to support classroom projects designed to educate students about sources of renewable energy and its uses.

Projects that will benefit from the awards include:

• Designing and racing solar-powered cars;
• Building solar-powered water heaters; and
• Constructing a wind turbine to power a radio tower for broadcasting school announcements.

The National Education Energy Development project (NEED), which works with businesses and agencies to promote energy education, selected the winners. Entries were judged on stated goals for the project; energy content; project creativity; and plans for the project’s budget and evaluation.

All projects are required to adhere to the Florida State Board of Education's Sunshine State Standards.

Money for the project awards is provided by the NextEra Energy Foundation, which receives funding from the shareholders of the parent company of FPL, NextEra Energy, Inc.

This round of awards marks the program’s third year of operation. To date, over $122,000 has been awarded to fund 84 projects across the 35 counties in FPL’s service territory, according to information from the company.

The utility has approximately 4.6 million customers and employs 10,000 workers.

Winning teachers for 2012 include:

• Allison Borszich of Baker County High School;
• Amanda Andrews of Baker County High School;
• Raul Montes of Cocoa High School;
• Mark Chimiak of Edgewood Junior/Senior High School;
• Stephen Hanrahan of Immaculate Conception School;
• Chris Wtipil of North Area Alternative Learning Center;
• Wendy Sheldon of Ralph Williams Elementary School;
• Stacey O'Connor of Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School;
• Nancy Rehwoldt of Surfside Elementary School;
• Tina Willis of (Broward) Elementary Science Department Core Curriculum
• Frederick Rimmler of Immalokee High School;
• Erica Cotto of Parkside Elementary School;
• Carlene Grossi of Pinecrest Elementary School;
• Laurie Weiss of Central Middle School;
• Laurie Futterman of David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center;
• Jan Duemmling of North Miami Elementary School;
• Robyn E. Oliver of Desoto Middle School;
• David Ernst of Challenger Middle School;
• Ashley Daymon and MaryAnn Grantham of Blackburn Elementary School;
• Amy Martin of Buffalo Creek Middle School;
• Fay Servoss of Buffalo Creek Middle School;
• Jennifer Reynolds of Buffalo Creek Middle School;
• Mischa Draime of Buffalo Creek Middle School;
• Ariel Sharpe of Palm Beach Atlantic University;
• Brittany Smith and Jen Bodeman of Palm Beach Atlantic University;
• Jenny Moote of Palm Beach Atlantic University;
• Kristen Knudsen of Palm Beach Atlantic University;
• Kristen Scarcella of Palm Beach Atlantic University;
• Mary McCartney of Floresta Elementary School;
• Mollie Mukhamedov of Floresta Elementary School;
• K. Cloutier of Port St. Lucie High School;
• Robin Marmitt of Windmill Point Elementary School;
• Mar Lou Jennings of Morningside Elementary;
• Kelly Ferguson of FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools; and
• Barbara Hawes of New Smyrna Beach Middle School.

"FPL's commitment to clean energy includes a commitment to help educate our children about its role in our everyday lives," said Pamela Rauch, vice president of development and external affairs for FPL. "We're proud to join forces with Florida's teachers to create innovative and inspiring was for students to learn about renewable energy sources and applications, thereby preparing them to lead the way to a cleaner future."

"As school budgets for science and technology shrink even as the need for education in those fields grows, we are proud to partner with FPL to fill the gap," said NEED Executive Director Mary Spruill. "The Renewable Energy Teacher Grant program, along with curriculum support and teacher training, gives our children critically needed opportunities to gain practical knowledge of today's and tomorrow's environmentally sustainable energy sources."

More information is available at www.FPL.com.