1. What is the Challenge?

The Challenge is an incentive based educational opportunity for students K-12 throughout the U.S. and much of Canada. Students are asked to use their creative energy to develop entries in the categories of Visual Arts and Music, Science and Technology, and Language Arts. Entries are to relate to the theme "Igniting Creative Energy" and demonstrate character building as it applies to wise energy choices and environmental stewardship. The entries are also to demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family or group can do to make a difference in their home or community.

2. How will participating students benefit?

Students benefit from taking part in this contest through:

• Learning how an individual's own wise energy choices and environmental stewardship can help reduce energy consumption and improve the community in which they live.
• Having the opportunity to demonstrate how they have "ignited their own creative energy" to explore new and innovative ways for making a difference in the ways that energy is used.
• Using personal creative talents to communicate energy ideas and actions to others.
• Realizing character building traits and experiencing a sense of accomplishment.
• Experiencing the possibility of being recognized for outstanding efforts locally as well as nationally, having projects published, and the chance to win a memorable educational adventure.

3. What is awarded to the winners of the Challenge?

See awards page.

4. Who can enter?

All students, kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States and Canada are invited to enter. Void in Quebec. Travel Prize Winners must be students and teachers at an accredited K-12 public or private school and may not be immediate family members of Johnson Controls, Inc., USEA or National Energy Foundation employees.

5. Can home school students enter?

Yes. All students K-12 are invited to enter. However, home school students are not eligible for the grand prize.

6. What are the qualifications to participate in the Challenge?

The following qualifications must be met for entries to be eligible for competition.

Each project must ...

• relate to the theme "Igniting Creative Energy".
• include a one-page written explanation of the project and how it relates to the theme.
• be comprised of the student's original work.
• include the completed application form and include signatures of the student and a parent or legal guardian.
• be postmarked by January 31, 2007; entries may be submitted anytime prior to that date.

7. How is the Challenge judged?

See judging criteria.

8. How important is the one page explanation?

Very! It will make or break your project and will move you into the next phase of judging. Those who reach this phase will have the possibility of having their project published.

9. Can my friend and I make a project together?

Yes you can. However, if your project is selected to be the travel prize winner, each person in your group will be judged independently based on your individual written explanations. The travel prize will be awarded to the student who received the highest score on their written explanation.

10. What can I do to better my chances of winning?

See student page.

11. How is the teacher selected for the grand prize?

The teacher winner for the travel prize is judged independently from the students awarded the travel prize. To be eligible for the travel prize, a K-12 teacher from an accredited public or private school must have 15 or more students enter whose projects score 25 or better. The teacher who is selected for the travel prize is the one who has the highest average score of their top 15 student scores.

12. Will I get my project back?

No. The projects become the property of the sponsors. If you have concerns or feel like you can't live without your project, please contact Shannon.

13. Can I send all my students' entries in one box?

Yes. Please make sure that each individual project, entry form and written explanation are marked with the student's name. If you choose to send more than one box, each individual's project, entry form and written explanation must be in the same box. If not, the project may never be matched up to the entry form and the student's project will not have the opportunity to be judged.

14. How did the Challenge come about?

The Challenge was the result of a partnership between Johnson Controls, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and National Energy Foundation in Salt Lake City, Utah.

15. Do I have to pay to enter the Challenge?

NO. The Challenge is a partnership program developed by Johnson Controls, Inc. and the National Energy Foundation. Johnson Controls funds the Challenge through an educational grant with additional support from Philips, the United States Energy Association and National Energy Foundation.

16. Are the national grand prize winners automatically the state/province prize winners?

The national prize winners only win the grand prize trip and are not eligible for state-level awards.

17. Can the lighting project winner be a national grand prize winner or a state/province winner?

No. The lighting project winner can only win the lighting award and will not qualify for the state/province or local challenge awards.

18. How can my organization help sponsor the Challenge locally?

See sponsors page