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December 10, 2007
Naperville, IL – Today Nicor announces the launch of its annual Energy by Design poster contest. As students prepare to go on winter break, Nicor encourages students to utilize their holiday breaks from school to create their energy efficiency posters. Energy by Design is a visual arts contest designed to bring students, teachers, and families together to become more aware of how to use energy wisely and its effects on the environment. Students in kindergarten through grade 8 who attend schools within Nicor’s service area are eligible to participate.
Receiving over 1,000 entries from 24 communities within its service territory last year, Nicor’s Energy by Design contest continues to build on a tradition of providing energy-related teaching materials to schools for the past 13 years. Energy by Design was developed by Nicor and the National Energy Foundation to enhance Nicor’s existing free natural gas instructional materials program in a new and exciting way. This contest also aligns with Nicor’s other educational initiatives including Dollars for Scholars, ScholarShop, Capital Grants and Matching Gifts for higher education.
“Nicor is committed to working with the communities we serve and continuing to look for ways to educate consumers about energy efficiency. This contest helps to motivate and challenge students to learn more about the importance of using energy wisely and how they can help reduce energy costs both at home and school,” said Margi Schiemann, Director of Community Relations for Nicor Gas.
To enter the Energy by Design contest, administered by teachers who chose to participate, young students are challenged to create a poster that will teach others how to be energy efficient. Contest materials encourage students to think about how they use energy and what they can do to promote energy efficiency. Students also write a reflection about the most important lesson they learned while creating their poster on energy efficiency.
“In many cases students present their posters and reflections to classmates, teaching their classmates about what they learned. Teaching others is one of the highest forms of learning,” said Schiemann. “The Energy by Design contest is a fun way for Nicor to demonstrate its support of educational initiatives, while helping consumers of all ages learn more about energy efficiency,” Schiemann added.
Entries are divided into three age-appropriate categories: grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. In each grade category there are four winners – Grand Prize, First Place Finalist, Second Place Finalist, and Third Place Finalist. There is also an award category for teachers whose student wins the Grand Prize. All contest participants will receive a certificate of recognition.
To garner student participation, contest materials were sent (via email) to teachers within Nicor’s service territory. Nicor encourages students to check with their teachers about having their class enter. Contest information packets and registration materials can also be downloaded at EnergybyDesign.org.
The deadline to enter is February 15, 2008. A panel of independent judges will choose winners in three grade categories: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Winners will be notified in late March.
Grand prize winners in each category will win a:
- $1000 U.S. savings bond
- Pizza party for their classroom
- Prize pack filled with fun, age-appropriate prizes
- Congratulatory plaque recognizing the student (which may be displayed at the winners’ schools)
The top three finalists in each category will win a:
- $250 U.S. savings bond
- Pizza party for their classroom
- Prize pack filled with fun, age-appropriate prizes.
- Congratulatory plaque recognizing the student (which may be displayed at the winners’ schools)
The winning teacher in each category will receive a classroom grant of $1000 and a congratulatory plaque.
Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company and is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Its primary business is Nicor Gas, one of the nation’s largest natural gas distribution companies. Nicor owns Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business serving the Caribbean region and the Bahamas. In addition, the company owns and has an equity interest in several energy-related businesses. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicor.com. | 
