Renewable Energy Education Awards

Renewable Energy Education Awards

Status: Nominations NOW OPEN for 2026

Purpose: Recognize excellent work being done throughout the United States pertaining to renewable energy education

Geographic Scope: United States

Background: For the past five years, REpowering Schools and KidWind have worked together to create educational supports and opportunities for students and educators throughout the K-College system, with a mission to build a diverse and sustainable renewable energy workforce through public-private partnerships.

Award Categories

#### Outstanding Educator
Recognizes educators at K-12, college-level, or within informal & training education who consistently engage in and provide well-rounded renewable energy education.

Criteria: Educators who:

Engage their community

Train other educators

Provide rich experiences for students that connect them to the real world

#### Industry Champion
Recognizes companies that support renewable energy education at all levels to ensure a diverse and qualified workforce.

Criteria: Companies who:

Demonstrate sustained support for K-college schools and programs

Treat educators like professionals

Invest in communities to help build the workforce

#### Student Excellence
Recognizes K-12 and college students (individual or groups) who have shown excellence through research, projects, and/or competitions related to renewable energy.

Eligible Activities Include:

Participation in KidWind and Collegiate Wind competitions

Renewable energy projects in school science fairs

Providing tours or tutoring on solar or renewable energy facilities

#### REpowered Schools
Recognizes schools actively raising awareness of and integrating renewable energy education into their curriculum.

Criteria: Schools must have a renewable energy system on campus AND:

Incorporate system data dashboard into multiple classes

Include renewable energy power generation in morning announcements

Have teams competing in renewable energy competitions (KidWind Challenge, NEED Youth Awards, Solar Sprint, etc.)

#### Special Recognition
Offers recognition for contributions of individuals or organizations (non-profits, legislators, state energy offices, etc.) that don't readily fall into education or industry categories but support renewable energy education and workforce development.

Contact Information

Organization: REpowering Schools & KidWind Address: 1401 Technology Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Phone: (540) 568-8768 Email: info@repoweringschools.org Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

Past Award Winners: View at https://www.repoweringschools.org/awardsrecap