Educational Programs
Columbia Water & Light is proud to be a Partner in Education with Columbia Public Schools and to work with many students during the year. Students learn about energy efficiency, safety, and electricity production as well as making smart budgets and exploring careers in engineering and energy.
opens in a new windowClick here to view descriptions of our educational programming available to all of our customers and community partners. Most programs can be customized to fit learning goals, age levels and time constraints.
Contact Columbia Water & Light at (573) 441-5513 or email eric.hempel@como.gov with any questions, or to schedule a program.
Columbia Youth Teaching Efficiency
The Columbia Youth Teaching Efficiency teaches middle school students about energy efficiency so they can use that information for the rest of their lives; and uses students’ creativity to add freshness to our marketing messages.
Look and listen for student work to be used in our advertising efforts throughout the year. We are thrilled with the results!
Quicklinks to 2019 winners:
Thank you to Columbia Public Schools and the EEE program for their support of this project. Heidi Barnhouse and Dr. Beth Winton welcomed us into their classrooms so we could offer a real-world marketing experience to their students. As well, Columbia Water & Light would like to thank all the participants in the 2018-2019 Columbia Youth Teaching Efficiency (CYTE) Marketing Contest.
Radio commercial winners
Judges looked for accuracy of message, call to action, reference to Columbia Water & Light, and creativity of presentation.
Radio commercial grand prize winner
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel” by Frankie Boland, West Middle School, 6th, Barnhouse.
Judges say: Creative use of the Rapunzel fairytale. Well written, good delivery, and strong call to action.
Radio commercial winner
“Buffalo Grass” by Allen Edwards, Lange Middle School, 6th, Barnhouse
Judges say: Loved the alternative take with the focus on planting native. Good information.
Radio commercial winner
“The Leak in the Smith Home” by Owen Roush, Jeff Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say:
Funny and relatable family exchange. Also, a pretty honest representation of what our customers’ experience.
Radio commercial honorable mention
“Ukulele” by Keira Tieman , Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Way to go out of the box with original music! “Water & Light will make your problems right” may be a bit of a stretch, but loved the creativity.
Radio commercial honorable mention
“Jack & Jill” by Jillian Lybeak Brown, Jefferson Middle School, 6th, Winton
Judges say: Fun explanation for a classic fairy tale. A little bit of disconnect between inefficient water use and going to the well, but the idea was there.
Radio commercial honorable mention
“Poem” by Teagan Groh, Jefferson Middle School, 6th, Winton
Judges say: Fun delivery of message, a little bit vague with the call to action.
Video commercial winners
Judges looked for accuracy of message, call to action, reference to Columbia Water & Light, and creativity of presentation.
Video commercial grand prize winner
“Shower Commercial ” by Truman Varns, Jefferson Middle School, 6th, Winton
Judges say: Loved the shower talking to the drain idea. Good information. Clear reference to Columbia Water & Light.
Video commercial winner
“Water Saver” by Izzy Johnson, Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Very well produced, clean execution, good transitions. Non-verbal text will make it easy to reproduce across media platforms.
Video commercial winner
“How to Save Water and Money” by Venus Kareem, Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Good ideas and clear points. Clearly did some research and made relevant use of conservation messaging as well. Loved the rain shower at the end.
Video commercial honorable mention
“Drips Everywhere” by Gus Lookingbill, West Middle School, 7th, Barnhouse
Judges say: Loved the “Help you, help yourself” tag line. Well executed video. Music was a little jarring.
Video commercial honorable mention
“Superhero” by Trevor Quinata,
Jefferson Middle School, 6th, Winton
Judges say: Loved the idea of a “headquarters” for superhero water savers. Thoughtful dialogue
A little difficult to understand.
Video commercial honorable mention
“Creative Ways to Save Water” by Emma Crow, West Middle School, 6th, Barnhouse
Judges say: Fun use of music and good transitions, clear messaging and good information.
Visual winners
Entries needed to be drawn well and readable. Judges looked for creativity, accuracy, and a call to action.
Visual grand prize winner
Judges say: Creative take on a pop culture reference without infringing on copyright. Clear call to action and suggestive marketing strategy. Well drawn and clearly written.
Visual winner
Judges say: Great job of using a mascot to demonstrate different ways to use water. Well drawn and clearly written.
Visual winner
Judges say: Great information. Loved that native plants were incorporated. Clear call to action. Enjoyed the talking sprinkler.
Visual honorable mention
Judges say: Very well drawn with good information and excellent lettering. Very clear. Would have liked to have a little more explanation for the super hero mascot.
Visual honorable mention
Judges say: Loved the idea of the grass talking to the sprinkler. Clear and well drawn. Missing any mention of Water & Light, but allowing a pass for clearly incorporating WaterSense.
Visual honorable mention
Judges say: Very creative and funny cartoon. Very well drawn and a fresh theme we haven’t seen before. Slight disconnect between how to save water with a leak in a boat, and a little unclear how Water & Light can help.
Haiku winners
Entries must adhere to the haiku structure. Judges looked for good imagery and word choice.
Haiku grand prize winner
All those leaky pipes,
Steal my money like a thief!
I must fix them now.
By Laura Kessel, West Middle School, 7th grade, Barnhouse
Judges say: Fun personification of the pipes with an actionable solution.
Haiku winner
Slowly water seeps
Cracks advance while wealth dissolves
Combat water waste
By Sage Koepke, Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Great imagery and poetic contrast between ‘water seeping’ and ‘wealth dissolving.’
Haiku winner
Myriad of leaks?
Cash cascading out of reach?
Seal your leaks today.
By Thomas Goff, Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Great adjectives with a clear call to action.
Haiku honorable mention
Brushing teeth is key,
But water waste is absurd!
So turn off faucets.
By Malcolm Stott,Jefferson Middle School, 6th, Winton
Judges say: Well done tying in an example of water waste and providing a solution.
Haiku honorable mention
Folks call me stingy
Joke’s on them, I’m getting rich
Turning off the tap
By Ainsley McCray, Jefferson Middle School, 7th, Winton
Judges say: Funny take on saving water. Not a great deal of imagery, but compensated for play-on concepts.
Haiku honorable mention
Save your water and…
Be a hero with no cape!
Help your city now!
By Brianna Seubacher, Lange Middle School, 6th, Barnhouse
Judges say: Cute concept of being a hero by saving water. Could have a more specific call to action.