2024 EnergyWhiz Award Winners

CRITTER COMFORT COTTAGE (C3)Critter Comfort Cottage logo

Best Design

Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – Team Turtle-Tastic, Sally Ride Elementary, Orlando.
Teacher: Beatriz Berriz

2nd – Happy Hamsters, Red Bug Elementary, Casselberry.
Teacher: Tisha Greek

3rd – EcoDragons, Lockmar Elementary, Palm Bay.
Teacher: Jennifer Lucas

 

Middle (6-8) Division

1st – Sustainable Krill Farm, Switzerland Point Middle, Jacksonville.
Coach: Ricardo Haragutchi

2nd – Croaky Critters, Pershing K-8, Orlando.
Teacher: Heather Febres

3rd – The Leaping Lizards (Napoleon), Pershing K-8, Orlando.
Teacher: Heather Febres

 

Wow! Award

Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – The Rainbow Raspberries (Octocinclus), Red Bug Elementary, Longwood.
Teacher: Tisha Greek

 

Middle (6-8) Division

1st – Croaky Critters, Pershing K-8, Orlando.
Teacher: Heather Febres

 

ENERGY INSPIRED ART (EIA)Energy Inspired Art logo

Elementary (K-2) Division

1st – Green Planet Spinner, Osceola Science School, Kissimmee.
Teacher: Amy Trujillo

2nd – Super R Saving the World, Osceola Science School, Kissimmee.
Teacher: Amy Trujillo

3rd – The Ocean Sweeper, Learning Forward Education Center (LFEC), Melbourne.
Teacher: Nicole Green

 

Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – Knights of the World, Lockmar Elementary, Palm Bay.
Teacher: Jennifer Lucas

2nd – Eco-Airport (Alligator Central Airport), Sally Ride Elementary, Orlando.
Teacher: Beatriz Berriz

3rd – Ladybug Rain Barrel, Timber Lakes Elementary, Orlando.
Teacher: Karin Hammond

 

Middle (6-8) Division

1st – Together We Can…For Climate Change, Arbor Ridge K-8 Magnet Middle, Orlando.
Coach: Anay Mahesh

2nd – The Solar Painting, Viera Elementary, Melbourne.
Teacher: Richal Rudnick

3rd – Energy Efficient Neighborhood, Milwee Middle, Longwood.
Teacher: Carol Unterreiner

 

High (9-12) Division

1st – Two Sides to the Same World, Timber Creek High School, Orlando.
Coach: Anumita Purwar

  

JUNIOR SOLAR SPRINT (JSS)Junior Solar Sprint logo

Best Design

Green Division – Elementary (4-6)

1st – Solar Speed Knights, Lockmar Elementary, Palm Bay.
Teacher: Jennifer Lucas

2nd – Are We There Yet?, Lockmar Elementary, Palm Bay.
Teacher: Jennifer Lucas

3rd – The NSU Solar Kings, NSU University School, Ft. Lauderdale.
Teacher: Michelle Garren Murray

 

Blue Division – Middle/Junior High (7-8) Division

1st – CJ Racing, Vbots, Rodgers Middle, Riverview.
Teacher: Mike Wilson

2nd – Project Hex, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton.
Teacher: Avery Danforth

3rd – The Suneater, Cornerstone Learning Academy, Tallahassee.
Teacher: Karen Metcalf

 

Most Innovative

Green Division – Elementary (4-6) Division

1st – Pikachu, Osceola Science Charter, Kissimmee.
Teacher: Amy Trujillo

2nd – Off Road Ice Cream Truck, Osceola Science Charter, Kissimmee.
Teacher: Amy Trujillo

3rd – Bookworms, Sumter STEM 4H, Wildwood.
Coach: Jenna Chiles

Honorable Mention – TEAM Smoothie, Sally Ride Elementary, Orlando.
Teacher: Beatriz Berriz

 

Blue Division – Middle/Junior High (7-8) Division

1st – Project Hex, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton.
Teacher: Avery Danforth

2nd – Juliet and Kaia, Cornerstone Learning Community, Tallahassee.
Teacher: Karen Metcalf

3rd – The Gamma Rays, Orlando Gifted Academy, Orlando.
Teacher: Kyle Dennis

 

Top Performing – Race

Green Division – Elementary (4-6) Division

1st – Slightly Above Average Joe’s, NSU University School, Ft. Lauderdale.
Teacher: Michele Garren-Murray

2nd – The Bookworm, Sumter Stem 4H, Wildwood.
Coach: Jenna Chiles

3rd – The Goofy Goobers (Lightning McQueen) Viera Elementary, Melbourne.
Teacher: Richal Rudnick

 

Blue Division – Middle/Junior High (7-8) Division

1st – CJ Racing – Vbots, Rodgers Middle School, Riverview.
Teacher: Mike Wilson

2nd – Tiger 16 Racing – Vbots, Rodgers Middle School, Riverview.
Teacher: Mike Wilson

3rd – Flyin’ Hawaiians – Coconut Car, Milwee Middle, Longwood.
Teacher: Carol Unterreiner

 

SOLAR ENERGY COOK-OFF (SECO) Solar Energy Cook-off logo

Best Cooker Design

Yellow Division – Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – NSU The Three Amigos, NSU University School, Ft. Lauderdale.
Teacher: Michele Garren Murray

2nd – The NSU Gang, NSU University School, Ft. Lauderdale.
Teacher: Michele Garren Murray

3rd – Marinaters, Viera Elementary, Melbourne.
Teacher: Richal Rudnick

 

Orange Division – Middle (6-8) Division

1st – SunSational, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton.
Teacher: Avery Danforth

2nd – The Four Solar Cooker Girls, Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City.
Teacher: Mike Howard

3rd – From the Kitchen of OGA, Orlando Gifted Academy, Orlando.
Teacher: Kyle Dennis

 

Red Division – High (9-12) Division

1st – Drop It Like Its Hot, Lyman High, Longwood.
Teacher: Jacqueline McFarland

 

Culinary Award

Yellow Division – Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – The Brekky Queens, Suntree Elementary, Melbourne.
Teacher: Judith Carr

2nd – A Taste of Mexico, Red Bug Elementary, Casselberry.
Teacher: Tisha Greek

3rd – The Marinaters, Viera Elementary, Melbourne.
Teacher: Richal Rudnick

 

Orange Division – Middle (6-8) Division

1st – XOXO Krispy Kitchen, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton.
Teacher: Avery Danforth

2nd – All Fired Up, Milwee Middle, Longwood.
Teacher: Carol Unterreiner

3rd – Hot Stuff, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton.
Teacher: Avery Danforth

 

Red Division – High (9-12) Division

1st – Drop It Like Its Hot, Lyman High, Longwood.
Teacher: Jacqueline McFarland

 

Wow! Award

Yellow Division – Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – Heat Dual, Ocean Breeze Elementary, Indian Harbour Beach.
Teacher: Holly Mentillo

 

Orange Division – Middle (6-8) Division

1st – Wellington Wall-E’s, Wellington Landing Middle, Wellington.
Teacher: Kathleen Heidrich

 

Red Division – High (9-12) Division

1st – Drop It Like Its Hot, Lyman High, Longwood.
Teacher: Jacqueline McFarland

 

Fresh From Florida

Fresh from Florida logo

Yellow Division – Elementary (3-5) Division

1st – A Taste of Mexico, Red Bug Elementary, Casselberry.
Teacher: Tisha Greek

Orange Division – Middle (6-8) Division

1st – Taste of Green, Wellington Landings Middle, Wellington.
Teacher: Kathleen Heidrich

Red Division – High (9-12) Division

1st – Drop It Like Its Hot, Lyman High, Longwood.
Teacher: Jacqueline McFarland

Florida’s solar power surge: Why the Sunshine State is investing so much in the sun

Florida’s solar power surge: Why the Sunshine State is investing so much in the sun
Written by: Dave Berman and Laura Layden – USA Today network Florida 
Posted on Florida Today Online

Dr. James Fenton, Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, comments on the importance and benefits of Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, and other utility companies solar expansion within the state of Florida. 

UCF Research Team Moves to Build Mobile Resilience Hubs for Local Neighborhoods

Posted in UCF Today
UCF Research Team Moves to Build Mobile Resilience Hubs for Local Neighborhoods
Author: Josh Holder 

Kelly Stevens, UCF Joint Appointment,  Kristopher Davis, Solar Division Director at FSEC, and other members of the UCF REACH Hub are in Phase 1 of their project which allows them to build and test mobile resilience hub trailers for use during future emergencies.