​TRENTON, NJ (December 6, 2021) – Atlantic City Electric, Exelon, the Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey are honoring six student teams across southern New Jersey for their NJ Student Climate Challenge action projects, which offer local solutions to the issue of climate change. As part of the inaugural year of program, local student teams were tasked with developing and executing a school or community-based climate action project and creating a digital story/video to accompany the project. Student team winners and their teacher mentors were recognized at a virtual awards ceremony hosted by the Drumthwacket Foundation with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.

"This generation of students will feel the impact of climate change more than any other and they understand the critical need for innovative climate action," said First Lady Tammy Murphy. "The creativity, passion, and advocacy displayed by our students through their projects fills me with hope for the future and certainty that New Jersey's youth will be the future leaders of the climate movement for our nation and the world."

The NJ Student Climate Challenge is a pilot program, funded by Atlantic City Electric and its parent company, Exelon, that was created to foster the growing role young people are playing in addressing climate change. The initiative builds on New Jersey's efforts to increase climate literacy among young people across the state, including its first-in-the-nation effort to incorporate climate change education across all K-12 state academic standards.

"The students participating and receiving grants represent the best of the best across South Jersey and demonstrate a bright future for the next generation that will shape our continued efforts to combat the climate crisis," said Melissa Lavinson, senior vice president of Federal Governmental and Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy for Exelon Utility, which includes Atlantic City Electric. "Climate Change continues to impact our communities. From the recent EF3 tornado in Gloucester County to more severe thunderstorms and hurricanes, programs like the NJ Student Climate Challenge have never been more important in helping to raise awareness of the need to act and respond."

High School Category Winners

• First Place: Team MM from Winslow Township High School, Winslow Township School District, Camden County
• Second Place: Penns Grove Locavores Team from Penns Grove High School, Penns Grove Carneys Point Regional School District, Salem County
• Third Place: Clearview Environmental Club from Clearview Regional High School, Clearview Regional High School District, Gloucester County
  

Middle School Category Winners

• First Place: Plastic Free AC Team from Sovereign Avenue School, Atlantic City School District, Atlantic County
• Second Place: The Green Team from Winslow Township Middle School, Winslow Township School District, Camden County
• Third Place: Radical Rugrats Team from Winslow Township School 5, Winslow Township School District, Camden County
  

The Drumthwacket Foundation worked with Sustainable Jersey, the program facilitator, to use a $500,000 grant, provided by Atlantic City Electric and Exelon, to develop the contest. During the inaugural year, the pilot program provided support and recognition to teams of students from public middle and high schools in Atlantic City Electric's service area. Winners were selected by a panel of judges that included educators and representatives from local non-profits, state agencies and the partner organizations. Winning schools receive a grant to support their climate education initiatives.

The NJ Student Climate Challenge is now open to New Jersey public schools and students in grades six to twelve across the state. Middle and high school students are encouraged to identify and complete a school or community project to address a cause or impact of climate change. The students then create a short digital story video to highlight what they accomplished. To support and inspire student action, educational sessions are offered. The sessions spotlight local impacts of climate change and strategies to address them, as well as success stories about what students are already accomplishing. Students participate through their respective schools. There is no cost to schools or students to participate. Climate Challenge details are available at bit.ly/NJStudentClimateChallenge. Student team entries are due April 1, 2022.