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

Students modify wind turbines to lower energy costs for homeowners and small communities.

AUBURN, N.Y. — April 27, 2009 — Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won three students from the Dane County, Wis., area 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 Sarah Creswell, Nick Mason, and Tony Pipitone, and their coach, Jeff Pipitone, 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.

Inspired by the T. Boone Pickens wind farm plan and President Obama's pledge to fund a new green energy policy, the students decided to address the issue of alternative energy. With the costs of some traditional, non-renewable energy sources skyrocketing and with national attention being focused on meeting our energy needs in environmentally friendly ways, the team specifically became interested in wind turbines, which operate cleanly and can provide a sustainable source of energy for homes and small communities.

After studying different types of wind turbine technology, the team determined that vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), such as the Savonius turbine, are best suited for home use in low wind (5-10 mph), but that they are currently inefficient. So the students set out to develop an efficient, low-cost VAWT. Preliminary work included gathering atmospheric data on local wind patterns, conducting a cost-savings analysis, and studying the science of wind power. Based on its findings, the team then built and experimented with seven different VAWT models, eventually reaching the conclusion that outfitting the turbine with an 8" vane to channel wind and magnetic bearings to reduce resistance produced the most favorable results.

"We believe that in one year we would be able to re-engineer, manufacture, and test a small group of turbines in our community," the team members remarked. "By placing low-cost, 200-watt turbines on 75% of the buildings in Stoughton, Wis., we could pay off the turbine purchase in one year, and save our community up to $500,000 a year after the one-year payoff period."

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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