Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Christopher Columbus Awards 2007-2008

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 - PMSU: Portable Multi-Sensory Unit ï¿½ Solana Pacific Elementary School, San Diego, CA

Problem: Children with severe multiple disabilities (SMD) often do not receive adequate sensory stimulation.

Solution: PMSU: Portable Multi-Sensory Unit ï¿½ a portable and adjustable sensory stimulation device for severe multiple disabilities.

Gold Medal -Sunbusters: Safe-Tea Sunscreen ï¿½ Science Rocks U, Whiteface TX

Problem: Skin cancer.

Solution: An outreach program to inform others about ï¿½sun safetyï¿½ and creation of a fragrance- and chemical-free sunscreen formulated from green tea.

$25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant – Trash to Treasure – Bexley City Schools, Bexley, OH

Problem: Depletion of fossil fuels.

Solution: A Public Awareness campaign to educate the community about the benefits of using the methane gas produced at landfills as an alternative source of energy.