Ferris Trio Win Recognition For Inventive Talents

Ferris High School students in ninth-grade honors science invented devices last semester that would make Inspector Gadget jealous.

As an out-of-class assignment, students were asked to brainstorm, design and build gadgets they would enter into the Duracell/National Science Teacher Association Invention Challenge.

The machines were as varied and quirky as the students making them.

One student built an automatic floor sweeper, another an automatic toilet seat closer. While not all these contraptions will revolutionize the way people live, three students learned last week their projects made the top 100 in the Challenge, out of 1,400 submitted.

Ferris finalists Allison Tenold and Amelia Hirschauer worked together on their invention: the Garage Guard. When a garage door opens, it trips a magnetic switch that triggers the device. The home owner is alerted by a loud buzzer and a red light.

The idea for the alarm system originated close to home.

“My parents are always asking me to see if the garage door is open,” Tenold said. The garage door is not visible from her house, so the device would alert her parents if they forgot to shut the door and save Tenold a trip in the bargain.

“It was really fun to make the device because in school we usually only have to come up with the idea,” Tenold said.

The alarm is housed in a cigar box-size case made of plastic as well as aluminum from a Sprite can. Holes punched in the metal accommodate the lights and switches.

Classmate Joanna Repsold is also a finalist for her timed refrigerator door alarm, which offers an alert when the door is open for more than 30 seconds. Like the Garage Guard, Repsold’s apparatus was inspired by a household problem.

“Sometimes my refrigerator door is left open so long all the cold air goes out, especially with some of the little boys in our family,” she said.

Building the gadgets taught students more than just electronics, said science teacher Cinda Parton.

“They really learn the skills you need in the workplace - trouble shooting, problem solving, finding resources.”

After completing the project, the honors students submitted photos, a wiring diagram and a paper to the Invention Challenge.

Now the three finalists will mail their devices to Duracell Headquarters in Bethel, Conn. for the final judging. A first-place win would net them $20,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds, but they are guaranteed at least a $500 bond just for sending a device.

Cheney student wins recognition

A Cheney High School student is a candidate in the year 2000 Presidential Scholars Program.

Jessica R. Kuo, a senior, is one of 2,600 students selected nationwide. Scholars are selected based on their academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in the community and school activities.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will make the final selections, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May.

Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholar Medallion at a recognition ceremony.

LC math students place high

A team of math magicians from Lewis and Clark High School placed in the Northwest Math Championship Feb. 5.

More than 425 high school students from 21 schools around the state crunched complex equations during the competition at Blaine High School in Blaine, Wash. Students were split into two divisions: 9th/10th-graders and 11th/12th-graders.

The students competed first on individual tests and then with their team on mental math, geometry, algebra, trigonometry and an anyquestion category called potpourri.

In the team category, LC’s Drew Piston, Krista Davis, Joel Pierce and Silas Hilliard took second place. In the individual category, Silas Hilliard took sixth.

LC was the only Spokane-area school that participated, officials said.

LC’s Knowledge Bowl team ready

Quick. What’s the highest mountain on earth? If you don’t know, tsk tsk. It’s Mount Everest.

If you did know, you might be ready for Knowledge Bowl.

A group of Lewis and Clark High School students think they’re ready and plan to compete in the regional Knowledge Bowl Tournament coming up Feb. 29.

LC competitors are Joe Escandon, Mike Ward, Rachel Bender, Silas Hilliard, Joel Pierce and Kathy VanHeuvelen, with Erin Weller and Jon Hammond as alternates.

“These are all straight-A students with SATs in the 1400 to 1500 range,” boasted bowl adviser and LC teacher Dave Jackson.

The competition is similar to the Jeopardy game show but with teams and a written test. Questions cover a broad range of academic subjects.

On a sample test, questions included, “What is the substance that is always formed when hydrogen burns? (water),” “How many books are in the Protestant Bible? (66),” and “What parallel divides North and South Vietnam? (17th).”

At a prep meeting Monday, Jackson sounded like he was talking to the football team.

“Speed is important. Being aggressive is important,” he told the students.

“We need people who are aggressive and fast. I don’t think they’ll fault you for being aggressive.”

Jackson figures the team to beat will be St. George’s School, a North Side private school.

“They probably study all year for this,” he said.

For their part, the LC team seems unconcerned.

“We’re doing it more for fun than for competition,” said LC Senior VanHeuvelen.

The bowl is a chance for academically oriented teens to compete, Jackson said.

“They’ve worked hard all their lives,” he said. “This is a chance for them to show their stuff. Plus, I think it’ll be fun.”

Gonzaga University is hosting the all-day, Educational Service District 101 event. ESD 101 is the consortium of regional school districts.

Winners in the regional Knowledge Bowl Tournament will move on to the state tournament March 25 at Camas, Wash.