Trumbull High School senior Anuj Sisodiya, creator of Energy Savings and Awareness Week that took place in town this winter, was recognized as a winners of the fourth annual Earth Day Competition held by the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation and the Captain Planet Foundation.
The young environmentalist was among 10 students honored across the globe, ranging from Turkey to Colombia to Africa to Texas.
“Sisodiya created ‘Light It, But Time It,’ a community-based, energy-saving project,” the NSHSS Foundation said in a press release about the energy awareness campaign that the Trumbull student pioneered as a sophomore. “During holiday seasons, he suggested that each household use a timer when using their festive, electronic décor...
“He also implemented ‘Energy Savings and Awareness Week’ (E-SAW) in his high school,” the released added.
In addition to those projects, Sisodiya created a website and employed social media, public canvassing, grocery store booths, and door-to-door campaigning to distribute free electrical light timers and to promote energy conservation.
Sisodiya has worked with energy company managers, town leaders, and vendors to further his initiative.
He has also launched “Measure, Monitor, and Save Energy (M2SE)” to use technology and apps to conserve energy.
“Old or young, student or teacher, businessman or serviceman, we all use energy from morning to evening in some shape or form,” Sisodiya told The Times in February. “We spend about $150 billion in wasted energy every year. Many of us waste energy by keeping appliances on longer than necessary and failing to pay attention to energy-saving recommendations.”
The Trumbull High School senior is the recipient of the Prudential Spirit of Community Service Award, the Action for Nature International Eco Hero Award, and the President Environmental Youth Award. He’s also a four-year member of the school’s debate team, its Spanish club, and the varsity tennis team.
“We are very proud to recognize these 10 outstanding students for their dedication to protecting and preserving the environment,” said Claes Nobel, founder of the NSHSS Foundation and senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes. “These students exhibit tremendous initiative to create impactful projects that will spark positive environmental change in their communities around the world.”
To be considered for the Earth Day Award, high school students from around the world with a GPA of 3.0 or higher submitted details about an environmental project they are spearheading, or a project that will be initiated around Earth Day in their home, school and/or community. Additional details on award submission requirements can be found online.
“This year’s winners are an inspiration to us all,” said Laura Turner Seydel, chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation. “We are honored to award these young scholars for their engagement in their local communities and efforts to improve the environment.”
The NSHSS Foundation and CPF joined forces in 2013 with the shared commitment of encouraging high school students around the globe to demonstrate their dedication to the Earth through action, highlighting those who are humanitarians, leaders and creators. Through their partnership, the organizations hope to increase awareness of Earth Day and CPF’s work supporting environmental leadership of high-achieving high school students and educators. In the past four years, a total of 47 Earth Day grants of $500 each have been awarded to winners who are actively demonstrating a commitment to care for the Earth.