Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program Honors Ideas of 36 Children
Selected From About 8,500 2nd - 8th Graders Nationwide, 36 Win $250, $500 or $5,000 Bonds; Two Will Win More
Proving the adage that "ideas are like gold," 36 children have earned $250, $500 or $5,000 savings bonds for their prizewinning inventions in the 2005 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. They were selected from about 8,500 second-through- eighth-graders nationwide, who accepted the program's challenge to invent a new tool or re-think an existing one.
Now in its ninth year in classrooms across the U.S., the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program is among the largest invention competitions in the world. The program is sponsored by Sears through its Craftsman® tools brand and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
"I've worked with hundreds of tools during my 25-year career on TV -- but, the tools our Young Inventors have designed are in a class of their own," said Bob Vila, host of "Bob Vila's Home Again" and spokesperson for the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. "Our challenge to the children is simple: solve an everyday problem by creating a muscle-powered tool. Their response is extraordinary -- with tools that do everything from making household tasks easier, to improving the lives of the young, disabled or elderly."
Students' entries are judged in two grade categories -- second-through- fifth and sixth-through-eighth. Each of the two grade categories includes awards for six national finalists, six second-place regional winners and six third-place regional winners. In total:
-- 12 national finalists each will receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond, as
well as a trip for themselves, their parents and their teachers to the
national awards ceremony in Chicago on September 26, at which time two
top winners of an additional $5,000 bond will be named;
-- 12 second-place regional winners each will receive a $500 U.S. savings
bond; and
-- 12 third-place regional winners each will receive a $250 U.S. savings
bond.
"The Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program offers students and teachers a wonderful opportunity to engage in practical, creative experiments and apply key scientific principles," said Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). "Our program is very popular because it gives students from schools of every size -- from home schools, to parochial and public schools -- a chance to be honored for their innovative ideas."
The 12 national finalists, 12 second-place regional winners and 12 third- place regional winners are as follows:
National finalists - second-through-fifth-grade category ($5,000 bond):
Lindsey Kenyon, fourth grade Rachael Barbush, fourth grade
Dodge Elementary School, St. Theresa School,
East Amherst, N.Y. New Cumberland, Pa.
"E-Z Grout Cleaner" - a "A Scooter Kickstand" - a U-shaped
long-handled tool that holds lever under a scooter kicks down to
brushes set eight inches apart, lift up the front of the scooter,
to clean floor-tile grout. so it stands by itself.
Robert Maloney, fifth grade Olivia Conrad, fourth grade
Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. Adams Elementary School,
"Handy-Lift" - "a hand-powered Hamilton, Ohio
forklift" to move heavy items in "Foot Elevator" - a tool that works
and out of the car, truck or "like a kickstand for a medical
minivan. boot," raising and relieving
pressure on an injured person's
leg.
William Helms, fifth grade Ryan Jordan, fifth grade
Ruth Doyal Intermediate School, Corbett Elementary School,
Conway, Ark. Tucson, Ariz.
"Chicken Feeder" - a pulley system "Extract-a-Nail" - a W-shaped tool
helps a person with arthritis feed with a center that hooks on a nail
chickens without lifting a heavy and two sides that push together to
bag. pull it out smoothly.
National finalists - sixth-through-eighth-grade category ($5,000 bond):
Stefanie Stallone, seventh grade Christopher Whetzel, sixth grade
St. Clare School, Marstellar Middle School,
Staten Island, N.Y. Bristow, Va.
"Doggie Water Walker" - a treadmill "Over the Edge Wheelchair Lift" - a
that fits in the bathtub, to help a pulley system "to help my mom up
dog gently exercise after an injury. when she leans over the side of her
wheelchair."
Chelsea Townsend, seventh grade Tylan Stone, eighth grade
Crystal Lake Middle School, The Edge Academy, Akron, Ohio
Pompano Beach, Fla. "Dew Rake" - a swimming "noodle" on
"Surf Rider" - a wheeled cart that a handle to pull through morning
holds the tail of a surfboard, so a dew, "to knock the moisture down"
child can pull rather than carry it. and save water.
Olivia Wiese, seventh grade Kirstie James, sixth grade
Newman Grove Public School, Hyde Park Middle School,
Newman Grove, Neb. Las Vegas, Nev.
"Helping 'Hand' L" - a "portable "Curved Sander" - a sander that
handle" for a car-door frame to automatically adjusts to the shape
help older or handicapped people of a sculpture as the sculptor
get in or out. "moves it up and down."
Second-place regional winners - second-through-fifth-grade category
($500 bond):
Cassie Sadoff, fifth grade Jenna Robinson, fifth grade
Birch Lane School, Tunkhannock Area Middle School,
Massapequa Park, N.Y. Tunkhannock, Pa.
"The Up Up and Away" - lever with "Super Shopping Cart" - bicycle
a wood base and "lacrosse shaft" brakes added to a shopping cart
lifts furniture for vacuuming "help to stop it from going
and more. downhill."
Kaitlyn Sizer, third grade Brittany Blum, fifth grade
Orchard Park Elementary School, St. Francis de Sales School,
Fort Mill, S.C. Lake Zurich, Ill.
"One-Handed Rolling Pen" - a handle "The E-Z Can Strainer" - handled
on a "regular rolling pen" helps a device holds an opened can and lid,
person roll out dough with one hand. so a person, especially with
arthritis, can strain off the
liquid.
Bernhard Goettert, fifth grade Trevor Summers-Lopez, third grade
Parkview Baptist School, Holmes Elementary School,
Baton Rouge, La. San Diego, Calif.
"The Tennis Ball Collector" - "Mr. Miter" - tool "to measure
pushable "box on wheels" rolls over angles for miter cuts and act as
and picks up tennis balls from a guide for the saw while clamping
the court. onto the material ... to be cut."
Second-place regional winners - sixth-through-eighth-grade category
($500 bond):
Constancia Malahias, seventh grade Brendan Murphy, seventh grade
Clark Lane Middle School, Odyssey School, Stevenson, Md.
Waterford, Conn. "The Speed Demon" - brake handles
"Fold Down Step Stool" - steps added to the right and left of a
attached inside a bathroom vanity sled so "when you pull them up you
door open so a child can reach will stop or turn."
the sink.
Wilson Hanna, sixth grade Roxane Kaale, sixth grade
Bob Martinez Middle School, Indianola Middle School,
Lutz, Fla. Indianola, Iowa
"Grab and Go Cane" - a "grabber "The Handy Wood Helper" - holds
arm" with a "trigger" attached to unevenly shaped wood (via a hook
a cane, to help pick items up attached to a PVC pipe on a dowel
off the ground. rod), so it can be chopped.
Jesse Huber, eighth grade Tavane Rapp, sixth grade
USD222, Washington, Kan. Hyde Park Middle School,
"Tile Puller" - a 90-degree-angled Las Vegas, Nev.
wooden device with two handles, "Universal Antenna Wrench" - a tool
to pull a piece of floor tile to "simplify the job of removing or
into place. replacing antennas on ... vehicles
at ... car washes."
Third-place regional winners - second-through-fifth-grade category
($250 bond):
Taylor Wood, fifth grade Rachel Miller, fourth grade
Maple Hill Middle School, North East Intermediate School,
Castleton, N.Y. North East, Pa.
"Toilet Seat 3000" - "an adjustable "Stud-be-Still" - a tool to help
toilet seat to accommodate ... the build a wall by keeping "your stud
small child to the large adult." still while you toe nail the stud
board into the floorboard."
John Patrick Shaw, third grade Morgan Forgette, fifth grade
Woodlawn School, Davidson, N.C. St. Francis de Sales School,
"The Sweet-Gum Baller 2005" - "push Lake Zurich, Ill.
mower" type of tool to remove "Sani-Scooper" - a scoop with a
"burred sweet-gum balls" from the hollow handle and a bag on the end
yard. to make it easier and more sanitary
to clean the litter box.
Kinsey Cation, second grade Erica Eden, fifth grade
Eanes Elementary School, Katherine Finchy Elementary School,
Austin, Texas Palm Springs, Calif.
"Super Fish Tank Cleaner" - cleans "The Piano Pal" - "a two seat piano
two sides of a fish tank and bench, that moves side to side" so
extracts dirty water without student and teacher can sit next
getting hands wet. to, but not bump into, each other.
Third-place regional winners - sixth-through-eighth-grade category
($250 bond):
Kyle Gerlach, sixth grade Andrew Graney, seventh grade
Gallagher Middle School, Holy Rosary School, Claymont, Del.
Smithfield, R.I. "Handle Extender" - an attachment
"The Practice Lobber" - a lever to the foot-rest lever on a
that, when stepped on, lifts a reclining chair, so elderly or
tennis ball into the air, so it disabled people can reach it.
can be hit with a bat.
Christian Chandler, sixth grade Daniel Whitten, sixth grade
Bob Martinez Middle School, Troy Christian School, Troy, Ohio
Lutz, Fla. "The Handy Lid Opener" - a handle
"Soft Toss Machine" - a plunger push and funnel with rubber epoxy inside
launches baseballs inside a pipe, make it easier "to break the seal
onto tennis netting, up to the of and open new lids."
batter.
Caden Zach, sixth grade Mitchell Quinn, eighth grade
St. Francis School, Humphrey, Neb. Berean Home School, Silverton, Ore.
"Deluxe Marshmallow Rotisserie" - "Nutcracker" - a box with a wedge
fishing rod with a rotating plate inside holds and cracks open two
on the reel and roasting sticks nuts in a "controlled" way,
on the end. "preventing pinching fingers."
The Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program is designed to teach students the scientific principles of how tools operate; introduce them to working with hand tools; encourage them to think creatively about the world around them; and enable them to develop practical solutions to everyday problems.
For more information on the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, write to: Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards, c/o National Science Teachers Association, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; call toll-free 1-888-494-4994; or e-mail younginventors@nsta.org . Information also is available at NSTA's Web site, http://www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman .
Founded in 1944, the National Science Teachers Association is the world's largest organization dedicated to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. The Association's current membership of more than 55,000 includes science teachers and supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
Craftsman® is the most popular tool brand in America.
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SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
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