2001 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program Honors Two National Winners and 10 Finalists
Sears Craftsman® tools and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), co-sponsors of the 2001 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, have announced that $70,000 worth of U.S. savings bonds will be presented to grade-school children to honor their efforts creating a new tool or re-thinking an existing one.
Each of the 12 children (six in the second-through-fifth-grade category and six in the sixth-through-eighth-grade category) has won a $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Two of those students -- one from each grade category -- have been selected as national winners of an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond.
The national winners of the $10,000 U.S. savings bonds are:
In the second-through-fifth-grade category:
* Phillip Mitchell, who was in fifth grade at J. B. Stephens School in
Bangs, Texas, when he invented "Easy Trim" -- an adjustable tool,
"based on ergonomics," that makes it easier to groom goats and lambs
for livestock shows; and
In the sixth-through-eighth-grade category:
* Jonathan Edwards, who was in sixth grade at Panhandle Junior High
School in Panhandle, Texas, when he invented "Step Ramp" -- steps that
easily convert into a ramp for pushing wheelchairs or moving heavy
objects.
"Amazing things happen when you ask kids to design and build something," said Bob Vila, spokesperson for the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. "This year's prize winners and the nearly 3,400 children who entered the 2001 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program experienced the thrill of working with and creating tools. They also have learned how to take an idea and make it a reality."
The following 10 national finalists will receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond:
In the second-through-fifth-grade category:
* Timothy Kenny, fifth grade, Bernardsville Middle School, Bernardsville,
N.J., for his invention: "Ladder Increaser" -- a stepladder with
adjustable, extendable back legs for uneven surfaces.
* Rachel Kaminsky, fourth grade, Concord Road Elementary School, Ardsley,
N.Y., for her invention: "The Shoe Lace Helper," which uses a swiveling
lever, a spool rod and clothespins to teach kids to tie their shoes.
(Rachel also was a national finalist in 2000 for her invention, "Dry
Eyes Onion Slicer.")
* Taylor Drane, fourth grade, Schwarzkopf School, Lutz, Fla., for his
invention: "Water Miser" -- an irrigation device that delivers moisture
to plants' roots and helps conserve water.
* Kayla Scott, fourth grade, M. I. Day Elementary School, Minerva, Ohio,
for her invention: "The Sodium Chloride Slide," which works like "a
small elevator" to lift up "heavy bags of salt for a water softener."
* Tony Jarecki, fifth grade, Christ is the Way School, Lindsay, Neb., for
his invention: "The Easy Lift Trash Can" -- a convenient way to remove
full trash bags and install new ones.
In the sixth-through-eighth-grade category:
* Mitchell Weiss, seventh grade, Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy,
Bloomfield, Conn., for his invention: "Pedal Powered Lawn Mower," which
combines a small bicycle with a push mower, to cut the grass.
* Matthew Marchand, seventh grade, Frontier Regional School, S.
Deerfield, Mass., for his invention: "The Mail-O-Matic" -- a box on
rollers inside a mailbox brings the mail forward when the door is
opened.
* James Antoine, seventh grade, Ridgeway Middle School, Memphis, Tenn.,
for his invention: "The Tent Peg Puller," which uses a support shaft,
lever and cable loop to help campers pull up tent pegs.
* Carly Monfort, sixth grade, Dublin Davis Middle School, Dublin, Ohio,
for her invention: "Multi-Purpose Jig," which is designed "to hold
small objects and free up hands" when doing soldering, arts and crafts,
and more.
* Andrew Lofgren, eighth grade, Logos Christian School, Haviland, Kan.,
for his invention: "Roofer's Helper" -- "a more efficient way to pull
out roofing nails when tearing off old shingles." (Andrew also was a
national finalist in 1999 for his invention, "Lawn Mower Cart.")
"The Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program gives students a real opportunity to experience the scientific process -- to analyze situations, recognize opportunities and create solutions," said Dr. Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). "The program also encourages teachers and parents to work closely with the children every step of the way."
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.
More information on the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program is available by writing to Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards, c/o National Science Teachers Association, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; calling toll-free 1-888-494-4994; or e-mailing younginventors@nsta.org . There also is information at NSTA's Web site at http://www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.asp .
Craftsman is the top-selling brand of tools and lawn and garden equipment in the United States. Craftsman opens more garage doors, mows more lawns, fills more tool boxes, and organizes, stores and protects more tools than any other brand in America.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 860 full-line stores. Sears also offers a wide variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, http://www.sears.com/ .
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 53,000 includes science teachers and supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Contact: Carol Simantz of Catalyst Marketing for Sears, +1-847-692-6311;
or Willy Medina of Sears, +1-847-286-1624
Website: http://www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.asp
http://www.sears.com/