Photo by Jennifer Cummings
Conway, SC – An Adventure with Electricity, by Brooke Ann Brown, was selected as the statewide winner of the 2022 Children’s Book Challenge, sponsored by EnlightenSC™ —an educational initiative of the state’s independent, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. The competition challenges fourth- and fifth-grade students to write and illustrate stories that focus on the impact of electricity in their lives, communities, and the state.
Brown, a fourth grader, was surprised during a live video conference on April 8. She is a homeschool student in Aynor. In addition to being surprised as the statewide winner, Brown also learned she was receiving a $500 cash prize for her work.
“The judges were impressed with the quality of both the story and illustrations Brooke Ann created for her book,” said Toni Gore of Horry Electric Cooperative, Brown’s local co-op. “She put a tremendous amount of work into the project, and it really shows.”
Brown’s book tells the story of a lighting bug named Sparkie who teaches a young girl about how electricity works in her home. The book will be published and distributed to elementary schools throughout the state.
South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have been committed to powering rural communities since 1938. This concern for communities, and the future of our youth, has carried forward to today. By inspiring students to learn more about energy in our state, S.C.’s electric co-ops hope to spark a passion for critical thinking in the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.