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MEDIA
RELEASE
May 6, 2010
CONTACT:
Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov
502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louisville Zoo teens win
international Project Polar Bear contest
Second year in a row a Louisville team wins
grand prize; They will travel to Canada in the fall to see polar bears
in the wild
.jpg) Louisville
Zoo teens were recently named the grand prize winners of Polar Bears
International’s Project Polar Bear contest.
The Louisville Zoo team of Emily Goldstein, an
18-year-old University of Louisville freshman; Sam Leist, an 18-year-old
Saint Xavier High School Senior; and Kaitlin O’Bryan, a 15-year-old
sophomore at Atherton High School, tied for first place with a team from
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
“I really can’t express the pride I feel to be
recognized by an international organization like Polar Bears
International,” O’Bryan said. “The organization itself is doing so much
for the bears and the environment and the people I met were so dedicated
and inspiring that their recognition means the world to me.”
The contest challenged teens to find ways to
reduce carbon emissions in their home communities. For the contest
(which ran from June 1 to December 31, 2009), Goldstein, Leist and
O’Bryan developed a free Energy Use Evaluation Kit for local businesses
and organizations that evaluates the business’ energy use and offers
easy energy-saving options to implement. By the end of the contest, the
teens generated pledges to reduce carbon emissions by more than 17
million pounds a year.
The teens were one of four finalist teams to
travel to San Diego on an all-expense paid trip and VIP tour of the San
Diego Zoo and Sea World for the announcement of the winner. They
received their award at a ceremony at the San Diego Zoo on April 23rd.
The other finalist teams, which tied for second place, were from Tulsa,
Okla., and Pittsburgh, Pa.
“All of the teams worked very hard, and they
all deserved to win. They were a great group of teens!” Goldstein said.
Goldstein, Leist and O’Bryan will travel to
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada—the polar bear capital of the world—for a
4-day trip this fall to see polar bears in the wild.
“The Project Polar Bear contest was a way for
small groups of young people to make a big difference, and we did just
that,” Leist said. “We are very grateful for being recognized by an
organization as amazing as Polar Bears International. By wining such a
prestigious competition, we are assured of a job well done.”
Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak is proud
of the teens.
“Emily, Sam and Kaitlin have worked hard on
their project and it’s rewarding to see three teens with endless energy
collect pledges that will reduce carbon emissions by over 17 million
pounds a year,” Walczak said. “They are perfect examples of how zoos
educate and foster opportunities for young people every day. They have
truly made a difference in our world.”
To learn more about the teen’s contest entry,
visit their website at
www.louisvillezoo.org/projectpolarbear. It contains information and
resources on polar bears and climate change in the form of quizzes, a
photo gallery and journal. It also offers tips for conserving energy and
a commitment pledge to reduce one’s carbon footprint by making simple
changes.
This is the second year in a row a team of
Louisville teens won Polar Bears International’s Project Polar Bear
contest. Last year, the team of Goldstein and Brandie Farkas won the
grand prize. (To learn more, visit
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/news/press/MR/2009/MR%2009-05-04_polar.htm.)
For more information on Polar Bears
International and the Project Polar Bear contest, visit
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org.
-- MEDIA OPPORTUNITY --
If you would like to interview Emily Goldstein,
Sam Leist or Kaitlin O’Bryan about this accomplishment, please contact
Louisville Zoo Public Relations Manager Kara Bussabarger at
502-238-5331.
***
The
Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky,
is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by
providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for
visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation
education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of
Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
***
Get
up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit
by checking out our new
Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville
Zoo by becoming a fan on
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Twitter.
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