Homegrown: America's next Eco-Star

UPDATED Friday, Feb. 24.

Just before voting closed Elliott was in second place in the standings.  The last minute push helped him, gaining about 600 votes. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=299112363476257&set=a.240355686018592.70920.191327920921369&type=1&ref=nf

The official tally to advance to the next round is Monday, Feb. 27.

Here is the original post:

Voting ends this Friday, Feb. 24, for Elliot Beenk, a University of Iowa Office of Sustainability intern and College of Engineering student, who is in the running to be America's Next Eco-Star.

The contest, sponsored by SmartPower and the U.S Department of Energy, is looking for students and young professionals who  represent the next generation of clean energy leaders.

Beenk, who is finishing his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering,  is investigating biomass fuels to meet the UI's 2020 renewable energy targets at the UI Office of Sustainability.  He will start a master's degree in environmental engineering this spring.

See his video on YouTube, and vote for him on the America's Next EcoStar Facebook contest page, or go directly to http://form.jotform.com/form/20325059008. Voting goes until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and the top 10 nominees with the most public votes will move on to the next phase of the competition.

The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the summer 2012

Sustainable Futures Academy, and a fellowship with SmartPower, a nonprofit marketing firm dedicated to promoting clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency.