To help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, PSEG hosted an Earth Day art contest. When asked to depict their vision of how to “Make the Earth a Better Place to Live,” our employees and their children did not disappoint.
The contest comprised four categories – under 7 years old, 7 years old to 12 years old, 13 years old to 18 years old, and PSEG employees. Two winners were chosen for each category and there was one overall winner. Each of the category winners received a $250 grant to a COVID-19 response charity of their choice. The overall winner received an additional $250 grant.
Thank you to all our participants and congratulations to all our winners!
The grand prize winner and Category C winner is Shaurya Ajinkya, age 16. Shaurya is the son of Shweta Ajinkya, a project manager in PSE&G Electric Transmission and Distribution – Projects & Construction. Shaurya, who is autistic with limited verbal and communication skills, expresses himself through art. He had a little help developing the concept from his grandma, which made it a fun activity for both of them.
Shaurya’s poster represents the healing earth and speaks to what we should all do to make it a better place. The poster shows a green and blue earth with Origami butterflies, animals and birds coexisting alongside humans. The animal drawings were inspired by “Gond Art,” a tribal art form from India. The bottom of Shaurya’s poster shows the people of earth uniting and forming a barrier to keep our “rock” beautiful. It also depicts ways each of us can make a difference. In Shaurya’s home, they have replaced plastic straws with those made of stainless steel (washable and reusable). And, keeping with the theme, he used recycled paper for the poster.
Shaurya selected the Akhil Autism Foundation, which has created a FREE Virtual Outreach Program due to COVID-19.
Congratulations and thank you, Shaurya.
Category A winners
“Making the earth a better place to live means sharing and caring about each other and where we live,” said Morgan Clark, age 6. Morgan selected Eleventh Hour Rescue as the recipient of her donation.
Morgan is the daughter of Brian Clark, PSEG Power’s senior vice president of Fossil Operations. “When Morgan received the exciting news over a family dinner, she lit up with joy because she would be able to “help the puppies,” Clark said.
Congratulations and thank you, Morgan.
“Making the earth a better place to live means keeping the environment clean and full of life by honoring the 3R Pledges, which is to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle 365 days of the year,” said Monica De Silva, age 5. Monica’s selected March of Dimes the as the recipient of her donation.
Monica is the daughter of Gracia De Silva, senior administrative assistant, Power Markets Operations – PSEG Long Island.
Congratulations and thank you, Monica.
Category B winners
“Making the earth a better place to live means keeping our environment healthy by recycling, reducing pollution and caring for all things on our planet, ” said LeeAna Lojek, age 12. LeeAna selected New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund as the recipient of her donation.
LeeAna is the daughter two PSE&G employees, Nicole and Andy Lojek. Nicole is a senior administrative associate in Gas Construction and Andy is a senior permitting specialist in Environmental Projects & Services – Projects & Construction. LeeAna’s parents said she was thrilled to be chosen!
Congratulations and thank you, LeeAna.
“Making the Earth a Better Place to Live means taking care of our planet,” said sisters Victoria and Julia Keselman, age 9. Victoria and Julia both selected Island Harvest as the recipient of their donations.
Victoria and Julia are the daughters of Anna Keselman, lead regulatory analyst, Planning and Budgeting – PSEG Long Island.
Congratulations and thank you, Victoria and Julia.
Category C winner
“Making the earth a better place to live means … doing everything we can to treat the earth in a way we want to be treated,” said Lily Wagner, age 15. Lily chose Mandy’s Mark – the New York Chapter of The Cure Starts Now as the recipient of her donation.
Lily is the daughter of Stacy Wagner, manager, Energy Efficiency Support – PSEG Long Island.
Congratulations and thank you, Lily.
Category D winners
“Making the earth a better place to live means, believing in tomorrow, 2020,” said Sharon Wrzesniewsky, bookkeeper for PSE&G Customer Operations. Sharon selected Rahway Food for Friends as the recipient of her donation.
Congratulations and thank you, Sharon.
“Making the earth a better place to live means loving our planet,” said Anna Keselman, lead regulatory analyst, Planning and Budgeting – PSEG Long Island.
Anna chose March of Dimes – PSEGLI Kicking Assets Team as the recipient of her donation.
Congratulations and thank you, Anna.
These are all lovely! Congratulations to all those who won and participated!
Congratulation to all the Winners. Everyone who participated is a winner i love all the posters.
Beautiful work by all !
CONGRATULATION TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS!