Essay contest encourages students to explore ways energy workers make a differenceVicksburg, Miss.—What would the world be like without energy and energy workers? Entergy Nuclear and Entergy Mississippi, Inc. are helping the Mississippi Energy Workforce Consortium find out through an essay contest for Mississippi students.Open to students in grades 7 and 8 in participating schools, the contests asks participants to describe how workers in the energy industry have made a difference in today’s world and how they are impacting the future.Participating schools in Mississippi include:
Madison Middle School
Clinton Junior High
Port Gibson Middle School
Whitten Middle School (Jackson)
Vicksburg Junior High School
Alexander Junior High School (Brookhaven)
Essays will be judged for content, depth of detail and use of spelling, grammar and mechanics. An iPod will be awarded to first-place and second-place winners at each school.The contest supports the consortium’s efforts to open young Mississippians’ eyes to the possibilities of careers in the energy industry. More information on the contest, which continues through September 16, can be found at getintoenergyms.org.“The Mississippi Energy Workforce Consortium is comprised of industry leaders who recognize that good jobs are afforded to communities through the energy industry,” said John Wheeler, workforce planning manager for Entergy Nuclear. Entergy is the nation’s second-largest producer of nuclear energy, with headquarters in Jackson, Miss. “By helping young people recognize these opportunities, we’re building a workforce for the future as well.”The contest also enhances Entergy Mississippi’s Destination Education initiative aimed at improving public education. Entergy Mississippi’s customer service managers are working directly with the schools to encourage participation.“Increasing graduation rates is one of the desired outcomes of Destination Education,” said Don Arnold, customer service manager for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. in Vicksburg. “Engaging young people in activities such as this contest may assist a student in finding something that interests them and helps them stay in school.”Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 15,000 employees.]]]]> ]]>
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