All States Regional Catholic School Students Named as One of Eight Finalist Teams in National Science/Community Service Competition Win Trip to Walt Disney World®

Students Develop Device to Monitor School Air Quality

AUBURN, N.Y.—May 9, 2008—Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won four students from All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin, NJ, a spot as finalists in the Christopher Columbus Awards, a nationwide program that challenges middle-school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities. Eighth-graders Briana Gillin, Gianna Marie Letinski, Anthony Mastrandrea and Hope Vala Pitner, and their coach, Stephen Kubricki, made it to the semifinals earlier this month, and now are one of eight finalist teams in the country to compete for the grand prize—the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant.

Curious as to why the importance of indoor air quality receives considerably less attention than outdoor pollution, the students embarked on a study of the impact of indoor air quality. They were alarmed to learn that Environmental Protection Agency studies indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times—and even up to 100 times—higher than outdoor levels. Considering the fact that the New Jersey Clean Air Council estimates that New Jersey residents spend more time indoors than the national average, the student team determined that the community must work together with legislators to effectively monitor indoor air quality, particularly in schools.

The students used an indoor air quality measuring device, on loan from Quest Technologies, to test the air quality at several public places, including their school. They were surprised to find that their school, which was built just seven years ago, had the poorest air quality of all the buildings they tested. The team's findings led to a two-pronged course of action—petitioning the State legislature to enact laws to ensure the safety of the air in the State's schools, and designing a "School Air Monitor" that could be installed in classrooms to continuously scan for unhealthy breathing conditions.

"Indoor air quality cannot be taken for granted," the team members remarked. "The air we breathe is important to our health, both now and into the future. Our initiatives to the legislature and through our invention are steps forward so that everyone can breathe easy and feel secure that the indoor air they are breathing will not be a silent killer."

A panel of community leaders, scientists and experts in science education selected this idea as one of the top eight entries in the U.S. More than 600 students and coaches participated nationwide.

Team Wins a Trip to Walt Disney World®

The team and their coach win an all-expense-paid trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort, where they will compete in the Christopher Columbus Awards National Championship Week, June 16-20, 2008, plus a $200 grant to further develop their project.

Each member of two Gold Medal winning teams will receive a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond, and one team will receive the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant as seed money to help bring its idea to life in the community. The Grant winning team will receive support from the Christopher Columbus Awards staff and continued guidance from their coach and community leaders.

The finalists will also attend the Christopher Columbus Academy, a custom-designed educational program. Conducted by scientists, engineers and educators, the program reveals the science and technology behind the thrills and excitement of Epcot® and the Magic Kingdom.®

Positive Community Change

The Christopher Columbus Awards challenge teams of middle-school students to explore and discover opportunities for positive change in their communities using science and technology. The program is now in its 12th year, and has attracted more than 15,500 students from diverse backgrounds all across the U.S. The program is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (www.columbusfdn.org) with support from the National Science Foundation, and is endorsed by the National Middle School Association. Past winners have included: a group of Native American girls who built a study hall out of straw bales on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana; and a team of students from Pennsylvania who developed a video/motion sensor device to deter motorists from trying to illegally pass stopped school buses.

Strong Participation from Girls, Minorities

The program attracts many students who may not typically enter a science competition. More than half of the entrants are girls, and nearly a fourth are from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, statistics that are higher than those of most science competitions. The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation believes the teamwork aspect and community focus draw a broader range of students to enter.

About the Sponsor

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is an independent Federal government agency created by Congress in 1992 to encourage and support research, study and labor designed to produce new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. The Foundation has established Frontiers of Discovery—Work in Progress and Discover the Future, programs that recognize “cutting edge” innovations, innovative ideas of America’s youth, and honor teachers. These programs include the four new Life Sciences Awards, $25,000 Homeland Security Award, Christopher Columbus Awards, and the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award.

For more information, call 1-800-291-6020 or visit www.christophercolumbusawards.com.

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