WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Ten finalists have been selected in IC Bus’ contest searching for "America’s Greenest School," and the company is inviting the public to vote online May 11-17 to select the winning school.

The winning school will receive a plug-in hybrid school bus from IC Bus, which the company says can increase the fuel efficiency of standard school buses by up to 65 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 percent. The hybrid bus has an estimated retail value of $200,000.

The student who submitted the winning essay will win a $5,000 scholarship.

Those who cast a vote are eligible to receive a $200 gift card for eco-friendly products from www.greenandmore.com. Votes are limited to one per e-mail address per day.

For official rules and to cast a vote, visit www.AmericasGreenestSchool.com.

Highlights from the nearly 2,000 essays submitted include the development of bus-riding campaigns, use of solar or wind power, ecosystem preservation projects, student environmental clubs, efforts to reduce energy and water usage, and various recycling programs.

Terra Wellington, author of Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home and representatives from IC Bus served as contest judges to narrow the field to 10 finalists. The winner will be announced in early June.

The finalists are:

• Alexander C., Irvington High School, Fremont, Calif.

• Dominik D., Riviera Beach Maritime Academy, West Palm Beach, Fla.

• Kara D., Asheboro High School Zoo School, Asheboro, N.C.

• Brianna F., Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Pittsburgh, Pa.

• Amelie H., Sidwell Friends School, Washington, D.C.

• Bria K., Walden III Middle and High School, Racine, Wisc.

• Katherine K., Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, N.J.

• Carolyn L., WACO Elementary School, Crawfordsville, Iowa

• Hilary P., Redmond High School, Redmond, Wash.

• John T., Morningside Elementary School, Salt Lake Valley, Utah

  Those receiving honorable mention are:

• Lane A., Highland Park Senior High School, Highland Park, Ill.

• Steve C., Conway High School, Conway, Ark.

• April D., Holy Name High School, Parma Heights, Ohio

• Christian L., Half Hollow Hills High School East, Dix Hills, N.Y.

• McKenna R., Oxford High School, Oxford, Ala.

• Hannah S., Ann Arbor Skyline High School, Ann Arbor, Mich.