Solana Pacific Elementary School Students
Named as One of Eight Finalist Teams in
National Science/Community Service Competition,
Win Trip to Walt Disney World®

Students Develop Multi-Sensory Equipment for use by
Children with Severe Multiple Disabilities

AUBURN, N.Y.—May 9, 2008—Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won three students from Solana Pacific Elementary School, San Diego, CA, 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. Sixth-graders Ethan Epstein, Brandon Liu and Miranda Wirt, and their coach, Rhonda Epstein, 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.

Having had a friend who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), one of the students was familiar with the San Diego Unified School District's multi-sensory rooms. These rooms are designed to meet the unique needs of children with severe multiple disabilities (SMD) by providing sensory stimulation and encouraging body movements and vocal responses. Considering the fact that 150 children in the San Diego Unified School District alone have SMD—and that the multi-sensory rooms currently in use are very expensive and take up a great deal of space—the students determined that a more affordable, portable option could positively impact more children with SMD and their families.

The students worked with district special education staff to gain a better understanding of the children's needs and how multi-sensory environments work. They also spent time with the district's adaptive equipment specialist and an electrical engineer to learn more about the technical aspects of multi-sensory equipment. The student team then developed an inexpensive, portable multi-sensory unit, which they tested with students with SMD. The outcomes closely rivaled those achieved in large stimulation rooms.

"Most families of children with SMD cannot afford a multi-sensory room at home," the team members remarked. "Our portable multi-sensory unit can help those families, as well as schools and institutions serving SMD children, to provide multi-sensory environments without spending thousands of dollars. We think our invention will improve the quality of children's lives."

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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