|
MEDIA
RELEASE
April 13, 2010
CONTACT:
Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov
502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| |
.jpg) |
|
| |
(Left to right)
Kaitlin O'Bryan, Emily Goldstein and Sam Leist
Photo by Kara Bussabarger/The Louisville Zoo |
|
| |
|
|
Louisville Zoo teen Project Polar
Bear finalists head to San Diego
With a promise of a cleaner tomorrow, team
unites companies to battle CO2
Louisville Zoo volunteers Emily Goldstein, an
18-year-old University of Louisville freshman; Sam Leist, a 18-year-old
Senior at Saint Xavier High School; and Kaitlin O’Bryan, a 15-year-old
sophomore at Atherton High School, have made it to the final round in
the international Project Polar Bear contest sponsored by Polar Bears
International (www.polarbearsinternational.org/project-polar-bear).
The contest challenged teens to find ways to
reduce carbon emissions in their home communities. The four finalist
teams—from Louisville, Ky.; Tulsa, Okla.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Winnipeg,
Canada—will travel on an all-expense paid trip to the San Diego Zoo in
California at the end of April where the winning team will be announced.
“Our teens are downright inspiring,” Louisville
Zoo Director John Walczak said. “I am so proud of their accomplishment
and dedication to the Zoo and our mission of bettering the bond between
people and our planet. These teens exemplify conservation leadership and
they are working hard to educate others to make a difference. Polar
bears illustrate the beauty of the Arctic, and we must do all we can to
save them.”
While in San Diego, the teens will get a VIP
tour of the San Diego Zoo, including a behind-the-scenes stop at Polar
Bear Plunge and a trip to Sea World. The grand prize for the winning
team will be a trip to see polar bears in the wild in Churchill,
Manitoba, Canada—the polar bear capital of the world.
“While we are very excited,” Leist said, “what
is important is not the recognition of our achievements, but the fact
that the recognition itself means people are beginning to care about the
world.”
For the contest, the teens 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.
“Our team was able to convince dozens of
companies to commit to saving 17 million pounds of CO2 per year!”
Goldstein said. “If three teenagers from Kentucky can do this, think of
what could happen if everyone would do their part?”
In addition to the kit, the teens made
presentations to local businesses to educate employees on the importance
of using less energy and asking them to sign a carbon emissions
reduction pledge.
“I was amazed at how many people were saving
CO2 but didn't realize it,” O’Bryan said. “Some things are so easy to do
and when we gave them suggestions, they were happily surprised that they
were already doing it. It inspired them to do more.”
The teens have a website,
www.louisvillezoo.org/projectpolarbear that features information and
resources on polar bears and climate change in the form of quizzes, a
photo gallery and journal. At the end of the contest (which ran from
June 1 to December 31, 2009), the team reduced more than 17 million
pounds a year of CO2 though pledges.
This is the second year a team of Louisville
teens entered Polar Bears International’s Project Polar Bear contest.
Last year, the team of Goldstein and Brandie Farkas won the grand
prize—a 6-day, 5-night trip to the polar bear capital of the world in
Canada to see polar bears in the wild and go dog sledding. (Read more at
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/news/press/MR/2009/MR%2009-05-04_polar.htm.)
For detailed information on all four finalist
projects in this year’s Polar Bears International’s Project Polar Bear
contest, visit
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/programs/project-polar-bear/winners#2009-winners.
-- 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
Facebook and
Twitter.
### |
