News
Mayor Announces Winner of TPS/COT Sustainable Energy Essay Contest
ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASE: Published 9-25-2009
Mayor Kathy Taylor announced today that Adriana Rodriguez of
Hamilton Middle School has won the Sustainable Energy Essay
Contest, held by Tulsa Public Schools and the City of Tulsa.
Adriana was told of her win at an early morning news conference
today at City Hall.
"I'm thrilled to announce the essay contest winner," said Mayor
Kathy Taylor. "Adriana's essay, 'Sustainable Energy: It's Important
to Our Community,' clearly stated her thoughts on why our country
and the whole world must look closely at sustainable energy
sources, and develop whatever technology required to make them
affordable and accessible to everyone."
Taylor also announced second and third place winners,
respectively, Ryan Bunch and Brienna Milleson, both of Thoreau
Demonstration Academy.
Dr. Keith Ballard, the superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools,
said the collaboration between the City of Tulsa and the state's
largest school district is a great way to bring attention to an
important issue.
"It's important for today's students to understand
petroleum-based energy may no be around forever," said Ballard. "I
believe this contest exposes their minds to that possibility and
challenges students to start thinking about how their generation
might impact the future of energy in the world."
The schools of the respective winners will receive a variety of
educational materials, totaling $30,000, for their libraries. The
materials have been donated by Global New Energy Solutions (NES),
the company that is sponsoring a nationwide educational effort on
the topic of sustainable fuels. In addition, Global NES will
construct a 30-foot wind turbine at a Tulsa Public School site
during October.
Following installation of the wind turbine, TPS, in conjunction
with the City of Tulsa, will hold an onsite renewable energy
celebration.
