Local students tasked with spreading anti-vehicle idling message via media contest

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published December 19, 2024 at 8:55 PM CST

Evansville student Janell Addo a sign design content winner, steps up to receive her monetary prize at the Vanderburgh County Civic Center on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Students submitted anti-vehicle idling signs to promote the practice of shutting vehicle off during short stops. — Evansville student Janelle Addo a sign design contest winner, steps up to receive her monetary prize at the Vanderburgh County Civic Center on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Students submitted anti-vehicle idling signs to promote the practice of shutting vehicle off during short stops.

According to the US Department of Energy, personal vehicles generate around 30 million tons of CO2 every year just by idling; high schoolers submitted informational videos and signs

One by one, winners of the Anti-Idling Campaign Climate Contest are given their prize before friends and family, Mayor Stephanie Terry and WNIN leadership at the Vanderburgh County Civic Center on Tuesday.

This is the end of a grant-funded project to urge motorists to not idle their cars because of the pollution it causes.

WNIN collaborated with the Evansville Climate Collaborative to promote an educational campaign on reducing vehicle idling.

A contest was open to Evansville high School Students to create informational signs and videos. Those winners were announced Tuesday.

"Never idle again!" A screen grab from the prize-winning video submission, "Family Dinner: Vehicle Idling PSA."

According to the US Department of Energy, idling for more than 10 seconds consumes more fuel and produces more emissions that contribute to smog and climate change, than stopping and restarting your engine.

Personal vehicles generate around 30 million tons of CO2 every year just by idling.

Evansville Climate Action Director Lauren Norvell said high schoolers were an ideal group due to their passion for environmental issues.

“Climate action is something that everyone should be concerned about, and many are concerned about but our youth are our next generation of leaders and decision makers, and we certainly need to get their buy in and participation in that process.”

Educational sign winner Sarah Parker said the campaign changed her driving behavior.

“I used to like sit for a couple minutes waiting on my friends to drive up and park next to me at school. But now I just crank the heat up a little bit, let it warm other car up and turn it off and just wait it out.”

Individual sign winners were awarded $250; each winner video group was awarded $1,000 as a whole, divided among members.

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Student Sarah Parker is photographed with Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry and Tim Black, WNIN president and CEO.

Contest winners (signs)
Janelle Addo
Sarah Parker
Isaac Shoener

Contest winners (videos, by group)
Isaac Shoener
Alexander Joyce
Finneas Schauss

Eleanor Hilton
Elizabeth Frazier
Margaret Windberg

Mallory Berger
Gavin Lacefield