Christopher Columbus Awards challenge teams of middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities

In its ninth year, the program has attracted thousands of 'everyday students from across the U.S. to use the scientific process to solve community issues.

(PRWEB) October 1, 2004 - The Christopher Columbus Awards, a free awards program which challenges middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities, announce the programs Call for Entries for the 2004-2005 school year. Teams of up to four students and a coach identify a community issue and use the scientific process to solve it. Finalist teams win an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World® where they compete for 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 ninth 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 Pennsylvania who developed a handheld grocery scanner that quickly deciphers food labels to detect whether the item contains allergens such as dyes or nuts. Many teams have gone on to develop patents on their ideas. Some entrants have decided to major in science in college as a result of becoming involved in the program. A complete list of past winners can be found at www.christophercolumbusawards.com.

Strong Participation from Girls, Minorities
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 nations 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. The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundations Board of Trustees believes the teamwork aspect and community focus draws a broader range of students to enter.

Deadline and How to Enter
The Christopher Columbus Awards is free 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 Monday, February 14, 2005.

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 Americas youth, and honor teachers. These programs include the $50,000 Frank Annunzio Award, the Christopher Columbus Awards, the National Gallery for Americas Young Inventors and the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award.

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