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

Students conduct energy audit to learn how their school can reduce consumption, improve efficiency, and save money.

AUBURN, N.Y. — April 27, 2009 — Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won three students from Selvidge Middle School, in Ballwin, Mo., 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. Seventh-graders Chris Novatny, Ryan Novatny, and Ian Pittwood, and their coach, Sally Blackburn, 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.

The team members chose to focus on energy conservation because they were concerned about the soaring cost of energy, which affects everyone directly or indirectly. While students don’t have to pay the bills yet for the energy they consume, their school district does, and that means less money in the budget for academic programs that impact all students. To formulate a plan to reduce energy consumption at their school, the team decided to learn more about how the energy the school uses is produced and utilized.

The students studied the pros and cons of every type of energy currently used at the school as well as other available forms of energy, including electricity, natural gas, coal, wind, and solar. Through field trips to buildings that employ unique conservation designs, consultations with energy experts, and extensive research, the team created an audit template to use in evaluating the school. After conducting a broad, comprehensive audit, the students developed a list of steps the school could take to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency at their school site. One particular recommendation — installing energy devices on vending machines — would potentially save taxpayers $314,000 over a five-year period if it were implemented at all state buildings across Missouri.

"After we reviewed all of the different ideas on how we could reduce consumption at Selvidge, we discovered a simple truth," the team members remarked. "Taking many small, inexpensive steps to improve efficiency can result in big savings."

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 14-19, 2009, 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 14th year and has attracted more than 17,000 students from diverse backgrounds all across the U.S. The program is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. 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 Life Sciences Awards, the $25,000 Homeland Security Awards and the Christopher Columbus Awards.

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

# # #