News Release - September 7, 2006

RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES EDUCATOR REACHES 20,000 RIVERSIDE STUDENTS

Riverside, CA  -  Rebecca Cuevas, Education Coordinator for the City of Riverside Public Utilities (RPU), has a gift of taking simple, everyday objects such as hula-hoops and a school playground and transforming them into teaching aids.  Children acting as protons, neutrons and electrons interact with hula-hoops on the playground.  It's this approach to education that has made RPU's school education program so successful.  Since October 2001, the education program has reached more than 20,000 students in the fourth and fifth grade levels throughout the city. 

Cuevas inspires young individuals with her interactive presentations, and the thank you letters she receives confirm she is succeeding.  For example, one student wrote that he thought that science was boring, but after participating in her presentation program he now wants to become a scientist.   

Cuevas had the daunting task of creating Riverside Public Utilities' education program from the ground up.  Her position is funded through a Public Benefits charge which allows money to be spent in only four areas which includes school education.  A life-long educator, who has taught pre-schoolers through adult students, Cuevas graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in English and has a Masters in Education from Wheelock College Graduate School in Boston.  She aligned RPU's school education program with the overall mission of the utility, and developed a mission statement that "encourages wise water and energy use practices by providing every elementary student in our service area with materials and presentations that promote efficiency and conservation." 

Cuevas stated that, "I want students to become educated stewards of our city's energy and water resources," adding that, "we're very fortunate in Riverside that our municipally-owned utility makes an investment in students. We want them to understand their role in protecting our resources."    

Students and educators have agreed, and Riverside Public Utilities' school education program is well-received, with the presentation schedule filling up a year in advance. RPU's program is now looked at as a model for other utilities and cities, with Cuevas sharing her presentation at industry-wide meetings.  There has even been talk about hiring her to travel but she has no immediate plans to leave Riverside just yet.

Established in 1895, Riverside Public Utilities is a consumer-owned water and electric utility that is governed by a Board of nine community volunteers.  Riverside Public Utilities serves over 102, 000 electric and 62,000 water customers within the City of Riverside. 

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