Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Christopher Columbus Awards 2005-2006

Christopher Columbus Awards and $25,000 Christopher Columbus Foundation Community Grant

Finalist Teams

At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, two of the finalist teams received gold medals and savings bonds for their winning entries. The competition is geared toward middle school-age children, and gives students experience in solving problems using the scientific process of exploring, analyzing and drawing conclusions.

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

Gold Medal - H.O.T. Band – Hesperia Junior High School, Hesperia, CA

Problem: Wheelchair-bound people have difficulty accessing a cell phone, reaching it and using it.

Solution:A wristband made of Velcro that would hold a cell phone to allow hands-free functioning and portability for people with disabilities.

Gold Medal - Tornado Awareness and Survival –
Madison County 4-H Club, Danielsville, GA

Problem: Little preparation time prior to a tornado.

Solution: Tornado Survival program � education program to help build community awareness of things they need to be prepared for a tornado.

$25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant – Fire Escape –

Island Trees Middle School, Levittown, NY

Problem: Delay in emergency response when there is a fire.

Solution: A fire extinguisher that sets off an alarm when picked up and deployed to alert others in the home of the potential danger.

Inspired by the plight of so many who have been affected by natural disasters in the past year, the Board of Trustees of the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation added a new award this year, named for the Foundation�s late Founder, Frank Annunzio.

Frank Annunzio Chairman�s Award – A.C.M.E. Disaster Masters – Memorial Park Middle School, Fort Wayne, IN

Problem: Disaster preparedness needs to be communicated to citizens of the community.

Solution: Send home information with students (pamphlet), put up billboards, make TV and radio commercials and place ads in the newspapers.

The A.C.M.E. Disaster Masters team members each received a $1,000 saving bond. A $5,000 donation was presented to the Allen County School Safety Commission to help implement their program.