Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Christopher Columbus Awards 2010-2011

Christopher Columbus Awards and $25,000 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 designed for teams of middle school-age students, and gives the 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 - Pickup Patrol – Mont Vernon Village School, Mont Vernon, NH

Problem: Communications problems between parents and school administration when students' end-of-day travel plans change

Solution: An electronic system that allows parents to change a child's after-school travel plans with the school by computer or mobile device

Gold Medal - The Solar Solution to Fossil Fuels – Mirman School, Los Angeles, CA

Problem: Diminishing supply of fossil fuels and the pollution they cause

Solution: A unique solar collection system that is functional anywhere in the world

$25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant – The River Rangers – Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, SC

Problem: Abandoned boats on rivers and the Intercoastal Waterway

Solution: Community Awareness outreach to educate the community about the environmental problems created by abandoned boats, and creation of an alarm system to alert boaters of navigational hazards