David Milton – Director, Advertising and Marketing
After months of promotion, school visits and collaboration with teachers, parents and students, the BGE Wires Down Video Challenge has come to a close and I’m pleased to congratulate Vincent Farm Elementary School in White Marsh on their first place win!
Yesterday, during a surprise assembly with the students, teachers, the principal and the Baltimore County Assistant Superintendent, we presented the school with their trophy and a check for $10,000. Their
winning video, which features seven students demonstrating what to do in a downed wire situation, is featured online and will be broadcast on local stations this Sunday. We invite you to take a look .
Launching the challenge in September, our aim was to reintroduce our classic “Wires Down” commercial to highlight the importance of electric safety to a new generation. We invited local elementary schools in the BGE service area to create their own adaptation of the commercial while competing for a chance to win funding for a school project.
Over the course of 10 weeks, we received a variety of creative and energetic submissions ranging from storybook illustrations and talking puppets to acoustic guitar sing-a-longs and even hip-hop remixes. During a two-week online public voting period, more than 67,000 votes were cast for the 30 entries received, narrowing down the competition to 17 outstanding finalists. A judging panel selected the gold, silver and six bronze winners based on creativity, adaption of the original commercial, safety and teamwork.
To all the students and those who supported them with this project designed to help spread the message of electric safety, we at BGE say thank you. Your participation made this program a huge success and perhaps even helped a child avoid injury by teaching them the dangers associated with downed power lines and electrical equipment.
To see photos from all of our BGE Wires Down Video Challenges events of 2013 check out our
Flickr link.
Stay tuned for details about future video challenges in 2013.
