Funding opportunities grow for Spirit of Innovation Awards Competition participants

SAN FRANCISCO – The Conrad Foundation and Constellation Energy Group have teamed up to create the “Constellation Clean Energy Award.” The grant will be a highlight of the Foundation’s 2011 Spirit of Innovation Awards in the competition category of Clean Energy , which challenges high school students to develop innovative products that address 21st century, real-world problems.

The $5,000 award is part of Constellation’s “E2 to Energy to Educate” grants , which are awarded to projects that reach and inspire students to think differently about energy. Students competing in the Clean Energy category in the 2011 “Spirit of Innovation Awards Competition” now have double the chance to receive funding to help advance their concept and move toward commercialization.

Registration for the 2011 Spirit of Awards Competition remains open to U.S. high school students through Jan. 17, 2011 , when product plans and ideas are due. In addition to clean energy, other competitive product divisions include aerospace exploration and cyber security . More than 100 expert scientists, engineering, entrepreneurs, environmentalists and astronauts from Sigma Xi , American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics , NASA and Lockheed Martin will serve as mentors for student teams in this year’s competition.

For more information, visit www.conradawards.org.

About The Conrad Foundation

The Conrad Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation designed to energize and engage students in science and technology through project-based learning and the introduction of the lessons of entrepreneurship into the classroom environment. The Foundation builds upon the legacy of Apollo astronaut Pete Conrad, the commander of Apollo 12 and the third man to walk on the Moon. By enabling young minds to connect education, innovation and entrepreneurship, the Conrad Foundation provides a bold platform for enriching imagination and innovative thinking.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sho Balkian, The Conrad Foundation
415-970-5227; Sho.Balkian@conradawards.org
Julie Arnold, Griffin Communications Group 321-773-3841; Julie@griffincg.com

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