Students Win Contest for Earth Day Videos

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, center, with the winners of DNREC’s 2022 Earth Day Video Contest, left to right: Middle school winner Johannes Chow, Elementary school winner Michael Hopkins and High school winner Nathen Going. DNREC Photo.

 

 

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today recognized student winners from throughout the state who won this year’s Earth Day video contest hosted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The contest was launched by DNREC to educate and engage youth about the importance of environmental protection and inspire them to be part of the solution to address climate change.

The contest invited students to produce and submit a 30-second video to answer the question, “If you were in charge of the world, what actions would you take to improve the health of our planet?”

“I am proud of our young people who participated in the DNREC Earth Day video contest,” said Governor John Carney. “They showed us all the ways – small and large – we can improve the health of our planet on Earth Day and every day, from picking up litter to practicing recycling to planting a tree at your school or in your neighborhood. Congratulations to the participants of the contest and we look forward to seeing the positive impact your make on our state and our environment in the future.”

“Our mission is to protect human health and the environment, and part of that is done through educating the public about our historic, cultural and natural resources,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By hosting the video contest, we wanted to provide our students a platform to share their concerns and propose solutions to the environmental challenges we face today and into the future. These videos reflect their readiness to take on environmental leadership roles and make a difference.”

The Earth Day video contest was open to all Delaware students and was judged in three grade categories: K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12. Judging was based on how well the videos represented the following criteria: message/theme, visual effectiveness, originality/creativity and universal appeal. Serving on the judging panel were: Sherae’a “Rae” Moore, educator and State Representative; Maddy Lauria, freelance environmental journalist; Jackie Knoll, head environmental educator with the Center for the Inland Bays; and DNREC videographer Mike Polo.

The winners are:

K to 4: Michael Hopkins, a 7-year-old first grader at Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School in Bear, for the video “Save the Earth – It’s Easy-Peasy!”

5 to 8: Johannes Chow, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Brandywine Springs School in Wilmington, for the video “We Have Only One World”

9 to 12: Nathen Going, an 18-year-old 12th grader at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, for the video “Save Our Planet”

Each of the videos are posted to de.gov/earthday and the @DelawareDNREC YouTube channel. DNREC also published a highlights video featuring clips from several entries. Each winner received a certificate, a $500 gift card, an annual pass to Delaware State Parks and a prize bag.

 

 

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC Invites Delaware Students to Enter Earth Day Video Contest

DNREC’s Earth Day video contest is open to Delaware students and will be judged in three grade categories: K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12.

 

With Earth Day to be celebrated April 22, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is hosting its second annual video contest to educate and engage young people about the importance of environmental protection and inspire them to become part of the solution to address climate change.

The global theme for Earth Day 2022, “Invest in Our Planet,” is focused on accelerating solutions to climate change, encouraging everyone – governments, citizens and businesses – to do their part. The DNREC Earth Day video contest invites Delaware students to produce and submit a 30-second video to answer the question, “If you were in charge of the world, what actions would you take to improve the health of our planet?”

“Since 1970, Earth Day has inspired environmental activism, and it’s especially important to hear the voices of young people,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “This contest is an opportunity for students to continue the legacy of those who came before them, adding their voices to the discussion about the choices we can make to take action on climate change.”

The contest is open to Delaware students and to be judged in three grade categories: K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12. Entries must be original, unpublished and created solely by the entrant. All entries must be accompanied by release forms for all students appearing in the video, signed by their parent or legal guardian. The deadline for entries is 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

Judging will be based on how well the videos represent the following criteria: message/theme, visual effectiveness, originality/creativity and universal appeal. The judging panel for the DNREC Earth Day Video Contest will include at least one professional from each of the following fields: education, journalism, science and videography.

Winners will be announced in an awards ceremony on or around Earth Day. Winners for each category will receive a certificate, a $500 gift card, an annual pass to Delaware State Parks and a prize bag.

Winning videos will be shared on the DNREC website and social media networks. For complete rules and more information, or to submit a video, visit de.gov/earthday. To watch videos from last year, visit the @DelawareDNREC YouTube channel.

Between now and Earth Day, Delawareans will have more opportunities to celebrate the natural world, learn about the science of climate change and take action. To learn more, follow @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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*This news release has been updated on March 17, 2022 to reflect the extended deadline for the contest.


Students Win Contest for Earth Day Videos

Governor Carney and DNREC Secretary Garvin recognize the winners of the 2021 Earth Day video contest. Pictured (from left to right): Governor John Carney, Ethan Fink, Vedic and Iveena Mukherjee, John Doerfler, and Secretary Shawn M. Garvin

Governor John Carney joined DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today to recognize the student winners from throughout the state who won this year’s Earth Day video contest hosted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The contest was launched by DNREC to educate and engage youth about the importance of environmental protection and inspire them to be part of the solution to address climate change.

The contest invited students to produce and submit a 30-second video to answer the question, “What should we be doing to protect and restore our Earth?”

“I am proud of our young people who participated in the DNREC Earth Day video contest,” said Governor John Carney. “They showed us all the ways – small and large – we can protect our planet from picking up trash to investing in renewable energy solutions.”

“Our mission is to protect human health and the environment, and part of that is done through educating the public about our historic, cultural and natural resources,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By hosting the video contest, we wanted to provide our students a platform to show how they are the environmental stewards of today and for the future. Their videos make clear that they have taken this responsibility to heart through their actions.”

The Earth Day video contest was open to all Delaware students and was judged in three grade categories: K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12. Judging was based on how well the videos represented the following criteria: message/theme, visual effectiveness, originality/creativity and universal appeal. The judging panel included an educator, a scientist and a videographer.

The winners are:

K to 4: John Doerfler IV, a 10-year-old 4th grader at Love Creek Elementary School in Lewes, for the video “From Little Things, Big Things Grow”

5 to 8: Ethan Fink, a 13-year-old 7th grader at Everett Meredith Middle School in Middletown, for the video “Saving Our Water Saves Our Earth”

9 to 12: Iveena Mukherjee, a 14-year-old 9th grader at the Charter School of Wilmington, for the video “Earning Our Environment”

Each of the videos are posted to the @DelawareDNREC YouTube channel. DNREC also published a highlights video featuring clips from several entries. Each winner received a certificate, a $500 gift card, an annual pass to Delaware State Parks and a prize bag.

 

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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