EXELON CORPORATION
Six New Jersey Schools Recognized For Innovative Climate Action Projects
Area high school and middle school students showcase their approach to helping to address the ongoing impacts of climate change

Atlantic City Electric, Exelon, the Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey honored six student teams for their NJ Student Climate Challenge action projects, which offer innovative approaches to help address the ongoing issue of climate change. Student teams, from high schools and middle schools across New Jersey, were tasked with developing and executing a school or community-based climate action project and creating a digital story or video to capture the approach and impacts of their climate project. Student team winners and their teacher mentors were recognized on June 8, 2022 at an awards ceremony hosted by the Drumthwacket Foundation with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.

"It is an honor to join these bright young minds tonight as we celebrate their hard work on the NJ Student Climate Challenge action projects," said First Lady Tammy Murphy, President of the Drumthwacket Foundation. "New Jersey is the first state in the nation to incorporate climate change education across its K-12 learning standards, giving every student the opportunity to study and understand the climate crisis by equipping them with the critical knowledge and skills to combat climate change.  Let these projects show that our state, and the world, are in good hands with the generations of climate leaders who will come from New Jersey."

The NJ Student Climate Challenge is a program, funded by Atlantic City Electric and its parent company, Exelon, that was created to foster the growing role young people are playing in addressing climate change. The initiative builds on New Jersey's efforts to increase climate literacy among young people across the state, including its first-in-the-nation effort to incorporate climate change education across all K-12 state academic standards.

"The best of the best across New Jersey are on display and it validates the bright future of the next generation. The students being awarded will continue to shape our efforts to fight the climate crisis," said Melissa Lavinson, senior vice president of Federal Governmental and Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy for Exelon Corporation. "I cannot truly express how proud I am to be a part of fostering the students' growth and passion and help pave the way for them to achieve extraordinary and impactful outcomes through the NJ Student Climate Challenge."

"The students being recognized not only demonstrated their deep-rooted knowledge, but also showed their passion and determination to combat climate change through their innovative ideas and approaches," said Doug Mokoid, region president for Atlantic City Electric. "Now more than ever, we need the next generation to step up while climate change continues to impact our communities. Programs like the NJ Student Climate Challenge are doing just that - bringing to the forefront the next wave of young people who can and will make a difference."

High School Category Winners

• First Place: Youth Environmental Society Team from Central High School, Hopewell Valley Regional School District, Mercer County
• Second Place: Buy Local/Bye Climate Change Team from South Plainfield High School, South Plainfield School District, Middlesex County
• Third Place: Team E-Bike Share from Penns Grove High School, Penns Grove Carneys Point Regional School District, Salem County

Middle School Category Winners

• First Place: Compost United Team from Howell Township Middle School South, Howell Township Public School District, Monmouth County
• Second Place: Lake Riviera Green Team from Lake Riviera Middle School, Brick Township Public Schools, Ocean County
• Third Place: The Fantastic Plastics Team from Howell Township Middle School South, Howell Township Public School District, Monmouth County

Winners were selected by a panel of judges that included educators and representatives from local non-profits, state agencies and the partner organizations. Winning schools received a grant to support their climate education initiatives.

The NJ Student Climate Challenge is open to New Jersey public schools with students in grades 6-12 across the state. Middle and high school students are encouraged to identify and complete a school or community project to address a cause or impact of climate change. The students then create a short digital story video to highlight what they accomplished. Students participate through their respective schools. There is no cost to schools or students to participate. Teachers and students should plan now to participate in the NJ Student Climate Challenge for the 2022-2023 school year. Updated information for the 2022-2023 school year Climate Challenge will be posted by early October 2022 at bit.ly/NJStudentClimateChallenge.

Susan Coan, region vice president, Atlantic City Electric, provides welcoming remarks at the NJ Student Climate Challenge Awards Ceremony held June 8 at Drumthwacket in Princeton, N.J. The NJ Student Climate Challenge is a program, funded by Atlantic City Electric and its parent company, Exelon, that was created to foster the growing role young people are playing in addressing climate change.

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy announces the winners of the NJ Student Climate Challenge at an awards ceremony held June 8 at Drumthwacket in Princeton, N.J. Atlantic City Electric, its parent company Exelon, the Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey, recognized six student teams for their NJ Student Climate Challenge action projects, which offer innovative approaches to help address the ongoing issue of climate change.

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, Susan Coan, region vice president, Atlantic City Electric and Randall Solomon, executive director, Sustainable Jersey, pose alongside with NJ Student Climate Challenge finalists after the NJ Student Climate Challenge awards ceremony held June 8 at Drumthwacket in Princeton, N.J. The NJ Student Climate Challenge is open to students in grades 6-12 from New Jersey public schools from across the state.

About Drumthwacket Foundation:

The Drumthwacket Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit, non-partisan organization. Its mission is to inspire pride and enhance civic awareness for all New Jerseyans by restoring Drumthwacket, a nationally landmarked historic site and the official residence of NJ Governors, and by educational and cultural activities that recognize the rich diversity and ongoing contributions of New Jersey's communities and its residents.

About Atlantic City Electric:

Atlantic City Electric is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and the nation's largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Atlantic City Electric provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy service to approximately 565,000 customers in southern New Jersey.

About Exelon:

Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC) is a Fortune 100 energy company with the largest number of electricity and natural gas customers in the U.S. Exelon does business in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada and had 2019 revenue of $34 billion. Exelon serves approximately 10 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania through its Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco subsidiaries.

About Sustainable Jersey for Schools

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward schools as they pursue sustainability programs. To date, 64% of New Jersey school districts and 1,050 schools are participating in the program. Sustainable Jersey for Schools has awarded over $2.7 million in grants to schools and school districts. Follow Sustainable Jersey for Schools on Twitter @SJ_schools.

Contact
Candice Womer
Senior Communications Specialist
Candice.Womer@exeloncorp.com
M: 267.240.5275