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Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 -8, 2026
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As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we are proud to recognize educators who go above and beyond to inspire their students through energy education.
NEED's Annual Bob Thompson Excellence in Energy Award recognizes teachers who bring enthusiasm, curiosity, and a passion for energy education to their students. In honor of longtime NEED educator Bob Thompson, the award celebrates those who inspire exploration and excitement in science. Recipients receive a $1,000 grant and an all-expenses-paid trip to the NEED National Energy Conference for Educators. Learn more about this opportunity here.
Congratulations to Our 2026 Award Recipients!
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NEED Energy Exchange Webinar
May's Theme: The End is Near!
Fight the end of year crazy with these fun energy activities.
Wednesday, May 20th
6:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM CST / 4:30 PM MST / 3:30 PM PST
Enjoy some fun and camaraderie! Have a chance at door prizes and to win a NEED Energy Kit. A certificate of participation can be requested.
No supplies needed. Free to participate,
but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
May is our final monthly webinar of the school year.
We hope you can join us before we resume these offerings again in the fall.
And be sure to check out all our past webinar recordings here.
| | **Celebrating Excellence in Education** | | |
Congratulations to Scott Valenta (St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Junior High Science Teacher) on being named the 2025 recipient of the Paul DeHart Hurd Award for Exemplary Middle Level Science Teaching and Leadership!
This award recognizes educators who demonstrate outstanding middle level science teaching and a commitment to sharing their expertise and leadership with others.
Scott has been a valued member of the NEED community for many years as an Energizing Student Potential (ESP) Illinois educator and NEED facilitator. A recipient of the NEED Bob Thompson Excellence in Energy Education Award in 2024, he continues to inspire both students and fellow educators. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement.
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Congratulations to Vida Cantieri (Chicago Public Schools, IL) on being named a 2026 recipient of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for Illinois and the North Central Section!
Vida’s commitment to engaging students in hands-on, real-world energy and Earth science learning truly reflects the spirit of this prestigious honor.
A longtime NEED educator and participant in the Energizing Student Potential (ESP) Illinois program, Vida was also recognized with the NEED Bob Thompson Excellence in Energy Education Award in 2022. Through her work, she has inspired countless students to explore energy concepts, think critically, and make meaningful connections between the classroom and the world around them.
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Use the force…of energy education!
Celebrate Star Wars Day with NEED’s A Star War – Battle for the Sun from our Energy on Stage guide. This out-of-this-world classroom play brings the science of energy to life as students take on stellar roles and explore the power of the sun in a galaxy not so far away. Perfect for engaging your students on #MayThe4th!
Free PDF Download
or viewable as an
e-publication.
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We’re gearing up for our 46th Annual Youth Energy Conference & Awards!
For 46 years, NEED has empowered students to lead the conversation about energy in their schools and communities. This event celebrates outstanding student leadership, innovation, and achievement in energy education from across the nation—and beyond.
Student groups who submitted a Signature Project to our 2026 Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement are invited to attend. These projects showcase students leading the way in energy education while bringing NEED’s Kids Teaching Kids philosophy to life.
Be sure to check the Youth Awards website soon as this year’s projects will be available to view shortly!
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A special thank you to this year’s dedicated panel of judges who generously gave their time and expertise to review the submissions. We truly appreciate your support!
- Macleod Adams - Honeywell International, Plymouth, MN
- Shayla Akins - Baltimore Gas & Electric, Baltimore, MD
- Ashley Brooks - Hydropower Foundation, Washington, D.C.
- Melissa Carter - Virgin Islands Energy Office, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Jayden Chan - DuPont, Wilmington, IL
- Elise DeGeorge - National Laboratory of the Rockies, La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
- Margaret Downey - Cape Light Compact (ret), Port Republic, NJ
- Kevin Galligan - Galligan Energy Consulting, Orleans, MA
- Erin Gockel - Farmington Public Schools, Farmington, NM
- Douglas Keaton - NEED Advisor, Career & Technical Education, Locust Dale, VA
- Barbara Lazar - NEED Teacher Advisory Board, Albuquerque, NM
- Robert Lazar - NEED Teacher Advisory Board, Albuquerque, NM
- John Lord - Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA
- Teegan Mathey - Exelon, Aurora, IL
- Dylan Roberts - Aimbridge Hospitality, Nashville, TN
- Amy Schott - NEED Teacher Advisory Board, Raleigh, NC
- Steve Solomon - Connect to Good, Glen Ellyn, IL
- Dan Whisler - Trane, Hutchinson, KS
- Wendy Wiedenbeck - Wiedenbeck Consulting, Highlands Ranch, CO
- Wayne Yonkelowitz, Fayette County Public Schools (ret), Fayetteville, WV
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