If you’re interested in joining our 2012 Innovation Expo Student Press team, contact your teacher or program manager.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ecskills21
also available at CTstudentfilms.org: http://ctstudentfilms.org/category_home.php?cid=Educational

Career: Looseleaf Productions
http://www.looseleaf-productions.com

Crosby: Vert Alert
http://s2.webstarts.com/vertalert/

CT Scholars Academy: Eco 45 Co
http://www.eco45co.com

New Britain: Green Galaxy Games
http://greengalaxygames.com

Newtown: Vec4 Studios
http://www.vec4.com

Pomperaug: ALT
http://www.alterthefuture.com/

Region 1: Naturango (company site)
http://naturango.com

Region 1: GreenClash (game site)
http://greenclash.com

Terryville: Envirogy
http://www.envirogygames.com

Bethel – Sun Chips
Bethel – A Glacial Demise
Bethel – Pure Water
Bethel – Team Hydrogen
Bethel – The Tree Huggers

Metropolitan Business Academy – Waterpollution 2010
Metropolitan Business Academy – DMCBGreen
Metropolitan Business Academy – Say No To Deforestation
Metropolitan Business Academy – Earth Project Program

E-Commerce Entrepreneurship

Berlin: GreenVerse Auctions
Career: By Teenz 4 Teenz
East Haven: Green Golf Balls
Lyme-Old Lyme: Recyled Rascals
Manchester: Earthly Jewels
Nonnewaug: Couch Grouch
Northwest: Lovely For Less
Oxford: Shred-a-Bed
Pathways: Bat in the House
Stonington: Schmeen

CT EXPO ’10

Saturday, May 8th, 2010
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. @ the Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford CT 06103

Featuring CCC Connecticut Career Choices and students from…

More info coming soon!

THE OPENING CEREMONY
The 2009 CT Student Innovation Expo welcomed more than 1,300 middle and high school students on May 9 for its most successful event yet at the CT Convention Center. In addition to the “cool stuff made by students” and “the energy in the room,” these were among the many comments from students, teachers, and visitors:

“The Expo brings everyone together in a way you could not on a regular basis.”

“It’s an opportunity for students to present high quality, authentic work.”

“Today was a great way to showcase the incredible amount of talent Connecticut students have to offer.”

And this one…

“I had the best time of my life.”

The opening ceremony began with an enthusiastic welcome from Lt. Governor Fedele, a strong promoter of education and technology. It was followed by an inspirational keynote from Lewis Gordon Pugh, who embarks on polar adventures (such as becoming the first person to complete a long-distance swim at the North Pole) in order to raise awareness about global warming and change environmental laws.

EXHIBITION BOOTHS and PRESENTATIONS
Almost 60 student booths were set up inside the CT Convention Center to display, market, and discuss student team projects. Students greeted visitors and judges, explained research, demonstrated Web sites and multimedia, and proudly promoted student-created films, computer learning games, and a variety of products. All projects contained a green theme, from a push for environmental responsibility and sustainable energy to solutions to pressing global health problems exacerbated by the environmental crisis.

Student teams in each program or course gave oral presentations or “elevator pitches” to a select panel of judges who represented business organizations, institutions of higher learning, and experts in the fields of health and science. Each panel scored presentations as they would in the real business world.

AWARDS
While it was difficult to choose winners from such an outstanding group of presentations and projects, scores were tallied and awards given in a variety of areas, including the “AT&T Greenie Award,” exhibition booth, oral presentation,  game design, white paper, business plan, ePortfolio, team leader, team player, multimedia, marketing, Web site design, Battelle Business Innovation Prize, CCC Internship Award, and more.

The CT Student Film Festival also held its own Oscar-style award ceremony to recognize an outstanding director of photography, editor, documentary, public service announcement, CT Film Festival Career Development Award, and more.

For a complete list of awards and winners, click on 2009 Awards and Recognition.

PARTICIPANTS
Middle and high school students from these districts displayed their innovative work: Berlin, Bethel, Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Danbury, Derby, East Haddam, East Hartford, East Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Hartford, Litchfield, Manchester, Meriden, New Britain, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Haven, New London, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Oxford, Plainville, Regions 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Simsbury, Southington, Stamford, Terryville, Thomaston, Waterbury, West Hartford, Windham, and Woodstock. CCC student participants were joined by Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program (CPEP), Connecticut Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the CT Community Colleges’ College of Technology Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (RCNGM), and the Connecticut Technology Student Association (TSA).

Lewis Pugh educates others about the critical state of our environment, asking us to stand up and save our planet and its marine life. He’s the only person to have swum in every ocean and was the first person to complete a long distance swim at the North Pole.

“Through my swims I have had a unique perspective on climate change. I have witnessed retreating glaciers, decreasing sea ice, coral bleaching, severe droughts, and the migration of animals to colder climates. It’s as a result of these experiences that I am determined to do my bit to raise awareness about the fragility of our environment and to encourage everyone to take action,” says Pugh.

Lewis swam across an open patch of sea at the North Pole in order to draw attention to the melting Arctic sea ice. The water was below freezing (-1.7°C/29°F), the coldest water in which any human had ever swum. He wore only a swim cap, goggles, and Speedo™.

Pugh has appeared on many television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Daily Show with John Stewart, CNN Vital Signs, and Good Morning America.

Pugh has been honored by various governments for his athletic ability and tireless environmental effort. He regularly meets with heads of state and business leaders to talk about how we can protect the environment.

Lewis Pugh states, “We stand at a critical point in the history of the planet and the steps which we take over the next few years will determine the future of the natural world and the sustainability of mankind.”

© 2005 Terje Eggum, Photographer [Pugh diving into the sea off Antarctica]

One of the featured competitions at Expo ’09 will be the Computer Game Design Challenge and the games produced by students from the Connecticut Innovation Academy.  The Connecticut Innovation Academy is designed to develop student academic and 21st century STEM skills through the completion of an “Innovation Challenge.” Throughout the school-year-long project, students learn about emerging science and technology subjects as they develop a mock company and assume positions in the company to complete the challenge issued. This year the students were challenged to develop a computer game that teaches the concept of energy sustainability and/or environmental responsibility. One of the teams participating this year is Banana Games from Brookfield High School. You can get a sneak preview of the Banana Games project by visiting their Web site. Be sure to join us on May 9th when all CTIA teams will present their work through oral presentations and exhibition booth displays at Expo ’09 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.