2000
Kiddie Katcher Millennium Middle School Sanford, FL Problem: Crib-related accidents. Solution: A net attached to the side of the crib which deploys and catches the child if it falls out of the crib. The net folds up flush when the crib is not in use. At an awards ceremony held at Epcot at Walt Disney […]
Batty 4 Bats St. Therese School Parkville, MO Problem: Endangered bats in Missouri. Solution: Educating people on the positive environmental impact of bats. At an awards ceremony held at Epcot at Walt Disney World, finalist teams receive $36,000 in savings bonds for their winning entries. The competition is geared toward middle school-age children, and gives […]
Science Squad Hamilton Middle School Houston, TX Problem: Fifth grade students not understanding science. Solution: Team will visit schools in the community that have low TAAS scores and teach the students fun ways of learning and understanding science. Teams were judged for the practicality of implementing their ideas. The winning team received the $25,000 Columbus […]

Robert C. Gallo, M.D. Director of the Institute of Human Virology and Professor of Medicine Microbiology and Immunology School of Medicine University of Maryland Baltimore, MD Dr. Gallo was awarded the $10,000 Frank Annunzio Award in the Science/Technology field. Dr. Gallo is universally recognized for his pioneering research into the understanding of human disease which […]

Maya Lin Owner Maya Lin Studio New York, NY Ms. Lin was awarded the $10,000 Frank Annunzio Award in the Arts/Humanities field. Ms. Lin has established herself in both the art and architecture communities with her unique vision and sensibility. Her monuments, including The Women’s Table at Yale University, the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, […]

Millard Fuller Founder and President Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) Americus, GA This worldwide Christian housing organization was awarded the $100,000 Frank Annunzio Award in the Humanitarian field. HFHI built its 100,000 home in September 2000. It is one of the top 20 house builders in the United States, and the largest among non-profits. More […]

Anthony Atala, M.D. Associate Professor of Surgery Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA Lab-Grown Human Organs Dr. Anthony Atala was the recipient of the 2000 $100,000 Christopher Columbus Foundation Award. Dr. Atala’s research will potentially offer everyone in need of an organ transplant to receive it, as he is creating new organs in […]

Robert A. Ferguson Whitney Middle School Tulsa, Oklahoma Robert A. Ferguson, the first recipient of the Freida J. Riley Teacher Award, is a special education teacher at Whitney Middle School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Award was presented in May at the Opening Ceremony for Space Day 2000 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum […]
National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors 2000 Inductees Edward T. Gemin, Age 17 – Heat Energy Recovery System Using Peltier Junction Modules Edward’s Heat Energy Recovery System conserves home energy by recycling the heat in water from showers, baths, clothes washers, and dishwashers. This is done by pumping the heat from the used hot water […]