Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education Announce Winners of the 2014 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

ISELIN, N.J., April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education announced the national winners of the sixth annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, the nation's premier national environmental sustainability challenge that provides K-12 students with the tools and inspiration to improve their schools, communities and world.

As part of the 2014 Challenge, elementary, middle and high school students across the country identified environmental issues in their schools and communities and created replicable solutions using digital curriculum designed by Discovery Education.

An esteemed panel of environmental advocates, STEM professionals, science teachers and professors selected this year's winners based on each project's viable solution to a real world environmental challenge. Projects were also evaluated on their ability to engage the support of the local community and ability to be replicated globally.   

"Now, more than ever, environmental issues are at the forefront of our national discussion.  These students bring fresh perspectives with new and exciting solutions that affect change," said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. "The Siemens Foundation and Siemens' 53,000 employees are inspired by the innovation of these students."

"Participating in the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge gave my students an opportunity to put the science they learn in the classroom to work in the real world," said Scott Bolen, teacher and mentor to the first place high school winners of the 2013 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. "By the end of the project my students were not only advancing their science skills, they were developing a passion for science and the environment that will serve them well as both students and citizens for years to come."  

In addition to other prizes, the high school first place winning team receives $50,000 in scholarship money.  Each student on the middle school first place winning team will receive a $10,000 savings bond along with a Discovery Student Adventure trip to Alaska. The first place elementary school winners in K-2 and 3-5 are each invited to a Discovery Education assembly focusing on sustainability, at which time a $5,000 grant will be given to each school.

Past winners have presented their projects at the United Nations and the White House Science Fair, to the Chief Administrator of the EPA, and to other national, regional and local officials.  Many projects have gone on to change schools' policies and inspire new ideas for politicians to craft green legislation.

High School Winners

First Place Winners:
Water Bottle Warriors - A Novel Biosensor and Filter from Recycled Bottles for Water Pollution
North County Senior High School
Glen Burnie, MD

Second Place Winners:
Vehicle Vindicators - Cars Producing Oxygen: The Power of Photosynthesis
Marvin Ridge High School
Waxhaw, NC

Third Place Winners:
Team Excelsior - An Inquiry Into Sustainable Solutions for Colorado Coal Mine Waste Revegetation
Animas Charter High School
Durango, CO

Middle School Winners

First Place Winners:
Zero Waste Team Delaware - Toward Zero Waste
Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Wilmington, DE

Second Place Winners:
Detergent Detectives - Let's Switch to Environmentally Friendly Detergents
Novi Middle School
Novi, MI

Third Place Winners:
Hudson Lake Doctors  - Hudson Lake Doctors Doctoring our Lakes and Rivers
Hudson Middle School
Hudson, WI

Elementary School Winners Grades 3-5

First Place Winners:
Lynn Woods Grade 3   - Stop Dumping and Start Helping
Lynn Woods Elementary School
Lynn, MA

Second Place Winners:
King's 4th Grade - Green Team Challenge - Plastic Waste Reduction
King's Elementary School
Seattle, WA

Third Place Winners:
Zero Waste - Peabody Team
Pine Ridge Elementary School
Auberry, CA

Elementary School Winners Grades K-2

First Place Winners:
Earth Agents - Precious Water
Snyder Elementary School
Snyder, TX

Second Place Winners:
The Zero-Waste Zealots - Reducing Trash
Kindi Mont Academy
Naperville, IL

Third Place Winners:
Riverside Elementary Gifted - Grade 2 - The Textile Troops: Operation Main Street
Riverside School District
Taylor, PA

For additional details about prizes, visit:

• High School: http://www.wecanchange.com/high-school/about-challenge/prizes/
• Middle School: http://www.wecanchange.com/middle-school/about-challenge/prizes/
• Elementary School: http://www.wecanchange.com/elementary-school/about-challenge/prizes/

For more information on the Challenge, the national winners and their projects, visit www.wecanchange.com.

About Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge (www.wecanchange.com) is the premier national sustainability challenge. It empowers students in grades K-12 to develop and share environmental solutions that change the world. The Challenge is sponsored by the Siemens Foundation and is administered by Discovery Education to educate, empower and engage elementary, middle and high school students and teachers to become "Agents of Change" in improving their schools, communities and world. To date, nearly 100,000 students have participated, creatively engaging their communities to find solutions to a local environmental issue or global energy challenge. All participants research their issue using scientific investigation and create a replicable green solution using web-based tools powered by Discovery Education. For more information, visit www.wecanchange.com.

About the Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation supports educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Its signature programs include the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a sustainability challenge which encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues and the Siemens STEM Academy, a national educator professional development program designed to support educators in their efforts to foster student achievement in STEM fields. The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. companies. For further information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org or follow @sfoundation.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140422/77204

SOURCE Discovery Education

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