Christopher Columbus Gold Medal Award
Today’s middle school students are the Innovation Generation — everyday kids with untapped potential who are creative problem-solvers. Unlocking that potential is the mission of the Christopher Columbus Awards program, a cutting-edge national competition that combines science and technology with community problem-solving in a real-world setting.
The competition is open to all students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Students work in teams of three or four with an adult coach to identify a problem they care about and use science and technology to develop an innovative solution. They work with experts, conduct research and put their ideas to the test, just like adult scientists.
Two teams will receive Gold Medal Awards, which entitles each team member to a gold medal and a $2,000 scholarship.
For more information and to enter, visit the Christopher Columbus Awards website.
Here is a partial list of past recipients.
Tornado Awareness and Survival Madison County 4-H Club Danielsville, GA Problem: Little preparation time prior to a tornado. Solution: Tornado Survival program – education program to help build community awareness of things they need to be prepared for a tornado. At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, two of the finalist teams received […]
H.O.T. Band Hesperia Junior High School Hesperia, CA Problem: Wheelchair-bound people have difficulty accessing a cell phone, reaching it and using it. Solution: A wristband made of Velcro that would hold a cell phone to allow hands-free functioning and portability for people with disabilities. At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, two of […]
Westerly Innovations Babcock Middle School Westerly, RI Problem: More than 400 million pounds of computers, cell phones, handheld games and other devices are thrown away in the U.S. each year, leaving two million tons of E-waste. Solution: Held an ‘E-Waste Drop-off Day’ where they collected 21,000 pounds of used computers and other E-waste, and provided […]
Multi-Sensory Fire Alarm River Bluff Middle School Stoughton, WI Problem: Children younger than five years old and teenagers have deeper sleep patterns than adults that may prevent them from hearing the sound of a fire alarm in time to get to safety. Solution: Combine water jets and a voice alarm contained inside a stuffed animal, […]
Purple Martin Houses Carlinville Middle School Carlinville, IL Problem: The effects that West Nile Virus have on the people and the community. Solution: Create Purple Martin colonies and an education program about them. Purple Martins are birds that would control the mosquito population. At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, three finalist teams […]
Walk N’ Rest Fontainebleau Junior High School Mandeville, LA Problem: Poor design of current walkers. Solution: Redesign current walkers so they include lights for better vision and movement at night and a seat so the person can stop and rest when needed. At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, three finalist teams received […]
Now You See It-Now You Don’t Bexley Middle School Bexley, OH Problem: Excessive amounts of animal carcasses clogging landfills and incinerators. Solution: Mortality Composting – burying a dead animal in a compost pile of sawdust where it will decompose quickly with no odor. At an awards ceremony held at Walt Disney World, three finalist teams […]
Pendulum Braking System for Wheelchairs Gwyn-Nor Elementary School North Wales, PA Problem: Difficulty controlling the speed of a wheelchair when going down ramps and sloped areas. Solution: Using trigonometry and mechanical devices, created a pendulum braking system that applies pressure to the back wheels by remaining perpendicular to sea level even as the chair slopes […]
The Stopping Cart Brandon Middle School Brandon, MS Problem: Runaway shopping carts in parking lots cause thousands of dollars in damage to cars and other personal belongings each year. Solution: Developed an easy to use braking system in the handle of the cart. It operates much like the handle of a self-propelled lawn mower making […]
