Switch it off! Hethersett Academy Student Places 3rd in Utility Aid’s Energy Saving Art Competition

Hethersett Academy is delighted to announce that on Wednesday 29th March one of its Year 7 students, Frank Olsen was named as 3rd place winner of Utility Aid’s Net Zero Art Competition. 

Utility Aid invited students from all schools across the Inspiration Trust to submit a poster to illustrate the importance of being a more eco-friendly school and of looking after our planet. The standard of entries was extremely high and selecting the three lucky winners was not an easy task for Utility Aid’s Commercial Director, William Campbell. 

Frank was over the moon to hear he had won 3rd place and a £50 gift voucher. He was equally excited when Hethersett Academy’s Principal, Jane Diver told him that she plans to have his poster copied and put up around the school site as a way to remind pupils and staff to save energy every day. Principal, Jane Diver was thrilled that Frank’s poster had been chosen and said: 

“Frank is such an asset to our school community and is a shining example to others.”

Frank is the current Chair of the school Eco-Committee and is passionate about the message his poster sends. He is so genuinely enthusiastic about making the school a more environmentally-friendly place, that Frank spends many of his breaktimes volunteering to do litter-picking as well as completing the challenges set by Hethersett Academy’s ‘Energy Champion’, Carol Simpson. 

Saving energy and looking after our planet is a mission Inspiration Trust feels very strongly about with a number of initiatives being put in place across all of its schools to support this goal. Hethersett Academy is already working towards obtaining a ‘Green Flag’ and hope to be awarded Eco-School status soon. Alongside this, Hethersett Academy regularly looks for ways to improve the schools’ sustainability and is looking into a better recycling system, as well as offering a plant-based menu in the school canteen.

Frank said:

“I hope that my poster will inspire others to think about the energy they’re using, because everyone can make a real difference”.

Ruaire Glackin, Head of Net Zero at Utility Aid, said: 

“[I am] overjoyed to see how much the competition had inspired so many young people to think about the energy we use and the impact we can have on our environment.” 

Bernadette Fowler, School Project Manager at Utility Aid, had the pleasure of presenting the prizes and said how impressed she was with the artwork created: 

“[I am] even more impressed with the tangible passion and determination of the students I met to make a real difference…they are our future after all, and it certainly is in good hands.

Thank you to ALL students who entered the competition and to all those staff and students who run and attend their Eco-clubs each week! Ruaire and our Net Zero team plan to run more competitions in collaboration with the Energy Champions and students across the Trust.”