Clever Tools Reap Rewards for 12 Young Inventors

Twelve children have developed out-of- the-ordinary tools to do everyday tasks. They have created inventions that help people slice onions without crying; make the bed with the turn of a crank; lift and move heavy objects; hitch tractor equipment; recycle, plant, compost and do yard clean-up chores; and assist individuals with limited use of one hand.

Selected from nearly 3,000 second-through-eighth graders nationwide, the 12 students have been named national finalists in the 2000 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. Each has earned a $5,000 U.S. savings bond and a trip to Chicago for the national awards celebration to be held in the west pavilion of the Museum of Science and Industry on Fri., Sept. 22.

From 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Sept. 22, the students will demonstrate their tools at an Inventors Showcase. At 12 noon, Arthur Eisenkraft, president of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), will begin the awards presentation. Bob Vila, spokesperson for the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, will honor the twelve students and then will present the two national winners, one in the second-through-fifth-grade category and the other in the sixth-through-eighth-grade category. Each of the national winners will receive an additional $5,000 savings bond.

Lindsey Clement, who created "The Gumball Machine" to pick up sweetgum tree balls without raking or bending over, has been selected the national winner in the second-through-fifth-grade category. She submitted her idea when she was a fifth grader at Pine Tree Middle School in Longview, Texas.

Michael Isaacs, who invented the "Push-Me Pull-Me Wheelbarrow" to make a regular wheelbarrow more mobile, stable and easy to use, has been named national winner in the sixth-through-eighth-grade category. He was a sixth grader at Hyde Park Middle School in Las Vegas, Nev. when he submitted his idea.

Students being honored as national finalists in the second-through-fifth- grade category include:

  -- Jordan Callender, Parkview Baptist School, Baton Rouge, La. - "The
     Strawberry Wheel"
  -- Andrew Johannes, Webber Elementary School, Lake Orion, Mich. - "The
     Milk Jug Masher"
  -- Rachel Kaminsky, Concord Road Elementary School, Ardsley, N.Y. - "Dry
     Eyes Onion Slicer"
  -- Zachary Tuthill, Mannington Township School, Salem, N.J. - "The
     Farmer's Helper"
  -- Timothy Wiese, Kalamazoo School, Lindsay, Neb. - "Multi Lifter"

Students being honored as national finalists in the sixth-through-eighth- grade category include:

  -- Kim Brown, Virginia Lake Elementary School, Palatine, Ill. -
     "Bedmaker"
  -- Kathryn Close, Glenridge Middle School, Winter Park, Fla. - "The Back
     Saver"
  -- Brendan Feifer, Unqua Elementary School, Massapequa, N.Y. - "The One
     Hand TRI Tool"
  -- Mindy Himler, Marysville Middle School, Marysville, Ohio - "Window
     Reacher"
  -- Marc Shapiro, Bernardsville Middle School, Bernardsville, N.J. - "The
     Anti-Garbo Composter"

"The Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program helps children learn that science is happening every day -- everywhere around them," said Arthur Eisenkraft. "Not only does this program invite them to participate in scientific exploration, but it also encourages their parents and teachers to mentor them throughout the process."

"Our award-winning Young Inventors and all of the children who participated in our program have learned important problem-solving skills -- and they've experienced how satisfying it is to build something that's new or better than before," said Bob Vila. 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.htm .

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 U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of nearly $40 billion. The company serves families throughout the country through approximately 860 department stores, more than 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's 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 and Co.

Contact: Carol Simantz of Catalyst Marketing-Public Relations,
847-692-6311, for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Website: http://www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.htm

Website: http://www.sears.com/