Energy Education Council and Illinois Broadcasters Association Launch Video PSA Contests
Contest open to high school students and college students in broadcasting programs

[March 12, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD - The Energy Education Council (EEC) and Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) have launched two new video contests to help raise awareness about outdoor electrical safety in Illinois. One is available to high school students, the other to college students enrolled in broadcasting programs. Both contests provide prize money for the winning students and their schools. The contests are being funded by Illinois electric utilities.

“The use of electricity is an integral part of our daily lives,” says Molly Hall, EEC’s executive director. “From substations, to overhead or underground power lines, to our home’s service connection and outlets — the electrical equipment that makes our modern lives possible can easily fade into the background and be overlooked. However it is vitally important to be aware of electrical equipment and to know how to stay safe around it.”

“We’ve seen firsthand how sharp and creative today's students are,” says Dennis Lyle, IBA’s president and CEO. “This is a great opportunity to build a resume, get statewide exposure for their work, and earn money to help pay for college expenses – all while promoting a great cause, safety around electricity.”

The “Safe Electricity High School Challenge” provides students the opportunity to create a short video – from 6 seconds to 60 seconds, with the option of submitting a broadcast-length 30 or 60-second video.

The “Safe Electricity College Challenge,” gives college students the opportunity to create EEC’s next television public service announcement (PSA). Teams or individuals are to design and produce a 30 or 60-second, broadcast-quality video PSA.

“Students can find information on outdoor electrical safety topics at SafeElectricity.org and should keep safety first and foremost in all aspects of production,” adds Hall. “It is paramount that all electrical safety recommendations and guidelines be followed during the development of the video.”

The contest judging criteria include creativity, message effectiveness, accuracy of safety information provided, production quality and adherence to rules. It is paramount that all electrical safety recommendations and guidelines be followed during the development of video entries.

Up to five winning high school entries will be named. The creators of each winning video will share a cash prize of $500, and the sponsoring high school will receive $500.

The creators of the winning College Challenge entry will share a cash prize of $3,000, and the sponsoring college's school of broadcasting receiving $2,000.

Winning videos may appear online on program and utility websites. The winning college entry may air on television stations statewide. All are part of EEC’s latest educational efforts to increase awareness on important outdoor electrical safety issues.

Students or teams of students must have a faculty sponsor and pre-register on the IBA website in advance of the video submission deadlines later this spring. Pre-registration deadlines are March 16, 2015 for college entries and May 15, 2015 for high school entries. Complete details for both contests can be found at www.Ilba.org.

“We appreciate the commitment and support of Illinois’ electric utilities to raise awareness on safety,” adds Hall. “They are generously underwriting contest prizes and television placement to expand the reach of important, life-saving messages.”

[Energy Education Council]