For Immediate Release: March 12, 2020

SMUD announces student winner of its Charge Up Change video contest

Awards cash prizes to local middle schoolers who submitted videos about electric vehicles

SMUD announced five student winners of its Charge Up Change video competition, which was designed to encourage middle school students to research and learn about electric vehicles. The competition challenged middle school students to create a two-minute video about why electric vehicles are cool.

“This competition encourages STEM in a way that connects students with real-life issues,” said Jacobe Caditz, education manager of SMUD’s Energy Education & Technology Center. “We were really impressed with the quality of work from today’s youth and find it even more important that they are learning about the future of transportation technology.”

This first-time competition kicked off in August 2019 and was promoted to middle schools in Sacramento County. Twenty-six videos were submitted and every student who submitted a video received a family pass to visit the California Automobile Museum.

The five winning submissions combined education, creativity and technology. Winners received cash awards. The top five winners of the competition were:

  • First Place ($1,500) – Jacob Wollwerth and James Msechu – Sutter Middle School, Folsom
  • Second Place ($1,000) – Grace Timmons – Folsom Cordova Community Charter School
  • Third Place ($800) – Garrott Roddy, Liam Tudor and Tyler Woodhill – Kit Carson Middle School, Sacramento
  • Fourth Place ($500) – Poorvaja Panneerselvan – Sutter Middle School, Folsom
  • Fifth Place ($200) – Kaitlyn Dias – Sacramento Country Day School, Sacramento

Community partners awarded an additional four submissions as honorable mentions:

  • Nissan of Elk Grove – Bailey Kaufman – Winston Churchill Middle School, Carmichael
  • California Air Resources Board – Margret Gibney – California Middle School, Sacramento
  • California Automobile Museum – Margret Gibney – California Middle School, Sacramento
  • Sacramento Electric Vehicle Association – Daniel Krotine – St. John Notre Dame School, Folsom

For more information on SMUD’s education programs, visit SMUD.org/Education.

About SMUD 
As the nation’s sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for almost 75 years to Sacramento County (and small adjoining portions of Placer and Yolo Counties). SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. SMUD’s energy is about 50 percent carbon-free and is on track to deliver 100 percent net-zero-carbon electricity by 2040, ahead of California’s 2045 goal.