Biggest Loser: Energy. It may have been a heated national competition, but things were cool in the classroom this spring. And thanks to the support of The Caesars Foundation, part of Caesars Entertainment, schools from Clark County, Nevada were able to join in.

Schools across Southern Nevada and Colorado competed for the regional prize of $500. Rock Canyon High from Littleton, CO may have taken the regional win for their standout efforts, but Valley High in Las Vegas also took home a national prize for the best team picture.

Burk Horizon High School was the highest-performing school from Clark County, Las Vegas. Burk is a second chance alternative school with only 200 students. They were inspired to start a school environmental club after they saw the ACE presentation in December 2011. The students at Burk gave the competition their all: conducting energy audits, leading efforts to reduce their school’s energy waste, and catalyzing teachers and students to participate. Burk students reduced their school’s CO2 output by 1,267 lbs and saving $93, in just 2 weeks.

As a reward for their achievement, Caesar’s Entertainment will host the winning Burk Horizon student team at a Job Shadowing and Mentorship Day this fall.

ACE is proud to recognize the leadership of the Caesar’s Foundation as the founding sponsor of our innovative programs in Las Vegas. Through their generosity, ACE has reached over 25,000 students at 18 Clark County schools in the 2011-2012 school year through award-winning climate education, action and leadership programs. 33% of schools reached in Las Vegas are title 1 schools, serving low income and high-risk communities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qpE62T6-JE

“I’d like to thank Caesar’s Entertainment for recognizing how important this education is to our children’s future.” – Wendy Sowden, Librarian/Community of Caring, Burk Horizon High School.

Congratulations to all of the Las Vegas students who brought creativity and leadership to the spring Energy Competition! ACE educator for Las Vegas, Vernard Williams, had this to say about the upcoming waste competition:
“Oh don’t you worry, Clark County is going to bring it next fall! We’ve rolled up our sleeves, and next semester we’re going to take home that prize. Watch out Colorado Rockies!”