CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AWARDS CHALLENGE TEAMS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Now in its seventh year, the Christopher Columbus Awards program has attracted thousands of students to use the scientific process to solve community issues. Middle-schoolers are called to enter this year's competition, which challenges students to apply what they know to help their communities. Entry deadline is January 31, 2003.

NEW YORK-November 1, 2002-The Christopher Columbus Awards (formerly known as the Bayer/NSF Award), which challenge middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities, announce the program's Call for Entries for the 2002-03 school year. Teams of up to four students and a coach identify a community issue and use the scientific process to solve it. Ten finalist teams win an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World® where they compete for up to $36,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant to help bring their idea to life in their community.

The award program is now in its seventh year, and has attracted over 12,000 'everyday' students from all across the U.S. Past winners have included a group of Native American girls who built a study hall out of straw on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, and a group of students from New Jersey who developed a technology to help deaf athletes communicate with their coaches while on the playing field.

Innovation Generation-Everyday Kids Making a Difference in their Communities
Middle school students participating in the Christopher Columbus Awards are proving that they are part of the 'Innovation Generation,' creative, community-minded young people using science and technology to develop intriguing solutions to some of the nation's most pressing issues.

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

How to Enter
For more information and competition guidelines, call 1-800-291-6020 or visit www.christophercolumbusawards.com. Coaches may be teachers, parents, community leaders or mentors.
Teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter. The deadline for receipt of entries is Friday,
January 31, 2003.

The Christopher Columbus Awards program is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation with support from the National Science Foundation. It is endorsed by the National Middle School Association.

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" innovation, innovative ideas of America's youth, and honor teachers. These programs include the $200,000 Frank Annunzio Awards, the Christopher Columbus Awards, the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors and the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award.

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Contact:
Linda Topoleski
ltopoleski@dymun.com
412-281-2345

Vicki Cherney
vcherney@dymun.com
412-281-2345