Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Bayer/NSF Award for the Innovation Generation 2000-2001

Bayer/NSF Award for the Innovation Generation and $25,000 Christopher Columbus Foundation Community Grant

Finalist Teams

At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, three of the ten finalist teams place first, second and third and receive $36,000 in savings bonds for their winning entries. The competition is geared toward middle school-age children, and gives kids experience in solving problems using the scientific process of exploring, analyzing and drawing conclusions.

The ten teams are judged a second time for the practicality of implementing their idea. The winning team receives the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant to take back to their community to make their innovation a reality.

First Place - Hot Rot - Bexley Middle School, Bexley, OH

Problem: Wasted heat from composte piles.
Solution: Development of a prototype system for heating water using "compost energy."

Second Place - IllumaCoach - Saddle Brook Middle School, Saddle Brook, NJ

Problem: Difficulties of deaf students participating in sports.
Solution: Invented a new communication system to assist deaf students competing on local soccer teams.

Third Place - Clean Smilers - Davis Drive Middle School, Apex, NC

Problem: Clean teeth for kids with braces.
Solution: Perfected a toothbrush to clean in the nooks and crannies of braces.

$25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant - Rez Protectors, Pretty Eagle Catholic School, Mt. Xavier, MT

Problem: Housing shortage on their Crow Indian Reservation.
Solution: Efficient and economical way to use straw in building
durable, well-insulated, and moisture resistant houses.