National Wildlife Federation–Environmental Journalism Competition

National Wildlife Federation Looking for Student Reporters

Environmental Journalism Competition

Are you a great writer? Do you love to take photographs or make video shorts? Have you participated in the Eco-Schools USA and/or Schoolyard Habitat program? Would you love to share local environmental issues?

The National Wildlife Federation would like to invite students ages 13-21 to join, report, and compete in the 2015 Young Reporters for the Environment-USA competition.

What is Young Reporters for the Environment? 

This environmental journalism competition invites youth between the ages of 13-21 to report on topics related to the environment. Participants submit an article, photo, or video to the competition for a chance to win great prizes, plus national and international recognition.
Make your voice heard and make a difference! Find out how to participate. Watch students report the news.

Project Green Challenge–Sign up TODAY!

Oakton invites everyone to participate in Project Green Challenge for the first time in order to “transition from conventional to conscious”. Created by Teens Turning Green, the event encourages participants to THINK about the products they purchase, the food they consume and the technology they use a bit more deeply through a series of daily challenges during the month of October.  We are trying to encourage as many Oakton students as possible to sign up and become engaged in this activity in an effort to increase student participation in sustainability behaviors and develop general awareness.

You do NOT have to participate every day. Even if you choose only one or two challenges the whole month, you still have the opportunity to earn points, prizes and some valuable reflection on your own behaviors. We will be able to see a leaderboard of participants from Oakton throughout the challenge to check in on our cumulative progress.  I encourage you to take a look at last year’s challenges for examples on what tasks are possible, noting that (though the topics may stay consistent) the daily challenges themselves will vary for this year.

The Oakton student who earns the most points will be eligible to receive either a pizza party for ten friends or a gift card to the Bookstore for $50 with the runner up receiving the other (sponsored by the Green Committee and the Office of Student Life). We will also give “go green” shirts made in part from post-consumer recycled products to the top ten point-earners. This is in addition to the daily and grand prizes offered by the challenge, including the opportunity for finalists to attend “Green University“, a 3-day summit where students can collaborate with peers, learn from esteemed eco leaders and develop platforms for social action. They return to their campuses empowered, mobilized and ready to work together to change the world!

ANYONE can participate but only college students are eligible for prizes. In order to increase awareness about this project, we will have tables set up on Student Street at lunch time Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (9/23-25) where students can sign up to participate on the spot. But anyone can easily sign up from a computer or mobile device. Please help us to share this awesome opportunity!

Sign up by September 30!!

STEM Challenge Opportunity! Cash Prizes!

From the Illinois Green Economy Network:

The National Science Foundation just announced a Community College Innovation challenge, for teams of community college students led by a faculty mentor and joined by an industry representative. The teams have to identify a real-world problem and propose an original, innovative solution, via a brief proposal and a 90-second video. Solutions must be STEM-based and fall within one of the following themes: Big Data, Infrastructure Security, Sustainability (including water, food, energy, environment), Broadening Participation in STEM, Improving STEM Education. Teams may apply online (website linked below) from September 15 through January 15, 2015.

Ten teams will be selected to take part in a competitive Innovation Boot Camp, with their travel expenses paid and $500 granted toward further refining their idea. First, second, and third place teams will be selected from this Boot Camp. Student members of the first place team will be awarded cash prizes of $3,000 each, $2,000 each will go to the student members of the second place team, and $1,000 each to the student members of the third place team.

This is an exciting opportunity for our students! Please share!

More information on the themes, the Challenge, and on how to apply can be found on the challenge website: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/communitycollege/