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

Students modify fire alarm to make it easier to find the way out of a dark, smoky room.

AUBURN, N.Y. — April 27, 2009 — Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won four students from Island Trees Memorial Middle School, in Levittown, N.Y., 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 Christopher Brand, Angela Frederico, Adam Kirschner, and Ryan Paolino, and their coach, Eileen Anderson, 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 students were concerned about the persistent problem of house fires, which can affect anyone. Advances in technology — most notably, the development of the fire alarm — have aided in the quick detection of fires, giving people more time to exit a building before it becomes fully engulfed. Yet, injuries and even deaths still sometimes occur in buildings that are equipped with working fire alarms. The team chose to address this specific dilemma.

After consulting fire safety resources and engaging in discussions with firefighters, the team determined that the most critical element in finding a safe exit from a structure that is on fire is light. Smoke is black at all times, darkening a room, and when fires occur at night, it can become especially difficult to locate windows, even in a familiar place. Further, smoke generally forces people to the floor, which can cause disorientation. With the assistance of engineers, the team outfitted an existing fire alarm with a string of amber LED lights. Triggered automatically by a sound amplification mechanism, the lights reach to the floor to guide people to an escape route in the event of a fire. When placed above a window, the device can literally light the way to safety.

"We proposed that a light source coming from one's window would increase the chances of a safe escape," the team members remarked. "We tested our device with 33 students in a darkened room, and in every single instance, the lights greatly helped them find their way."

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.

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