2003 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program Winners List
Grades 6-8

First Place
Tool: The Adjustable Hanger
Student: Emily Curran
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Jane Ramos
School: Gallagher Middle School
Smithfield, RI

Description:
Screws, as well as a large and small rod, help modify a hanger to fit various items.

Second Place
Tool: Kash Klaws Snow Shovel
Student: John Kashmanian
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Mark Sylvestre
School: Gallagher Middle School
Smithfield, RI

Description:
A shovel with teeth lifts ice under snow for a finished job.

Third Place
Tool: Computer Helper
Student: Catherine Seibel
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Fran Hausman
School: Saucon Valley Middle School
Hellertown, PA

Description:
An adjustable mouse holder to help people with wrist problems.

First Place
Tool: EZ Shove
Student: Jamila Jordan
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Amy Helm
School: Alice Deal Junior High School
Washington, DC

Description:
Training wheels added to a curved shovel make it easier to lift and move snow.

Second Place
Tool: Camping Toaster
Student: Katelyn Lepore
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Paul Wirkus
School: JFK Middle School
Port Jefferson Station, NY

Description:
An eggbeater, modified with a long fork, helps to toast hot dogs and other food over a campfire.

Third Place
Tool: The Wheelchair Advantage
Student: Jonathan Jaeger
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Sharon Woolf
School: Lake Braddock Secondary
Burke, VA

Description:
Handles on a wheelchair enable the user to move the chair with a rowing-type motion.

First Place
Tool: Hitch Helper
Student: Trey J. Wiler
Grade: 7th
Teacher: Kirsten Anderson
School: Windermere Prep
Windermere, FL

Description:
Guides a boat trailer to the ball of a hitch while protecting the bumper of the car or truck.

Second Place
Tool: Barrier
Student: Matthew Clark
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Cindy Carson
School: Liberty Middle School
Madison, AL

Description:
A handle and hooks on a piece of wood carry a skateboard and keeps hands clean.

Third Place
Tool: Super Sit Up Machine
Student: Tabor Reins
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Leslie Fogle
School: Vickery Creek Middle School
Cumming, GA

Description:
Holsters attached to a mat help people do sit ups or crunches.

First Place
Tool: Wheelchair Backpack Holder
Student: Chandler Macocha
Grade: 7th
Teacher: Kristin Breil
School: Oxford Middle School
Oxford, MI

Description:
A wheelchair's backpack conveniently swivels forward via a lever.

Second Place
Tool: Easy Slide Hand Rail
Student: David Beresford
Grade: 7th
Teacher: Debbie Beresford
School: Beresford Home School
Northville, MI

Description:
A grab bar slides up or down a notched hand-rail, to help the elderly or impaired climb stairs.

Third Place
Tool: Lip-Up
Student: Jeff Dertinger
Grade: 7th
Teacher: David Harstad
School: ISD 206
Alexandria, MN

Description:
Levers open and close the lid of a dumpster to simplify garbage disposal altogether.

First Place
Tool: Open-Door Alarm
Student: Cynthia Sung
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Kathy Duquesnay
School: Duchesne Academy
Houston, TX

Description:
Inserted between a refrigerator's door and frame, it sounds when the door's left open.

Second Place
Tool: Convertible Crutch Chair
Student: Jacob LeBouef
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Cheryl Lambert
School: Broussard Middle School
Broussard, LA

Description:
A crutch quickly converts to a chair when the user gets tired.

Third Place
Tool: Auto-Measure
Student: Janina Taylor
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Kathy Duquesnay
School: Duchesne Academy
Houston, TX

Description:
Device in a container eliminates the need to buy separate measuring cups.

First Place
Tool: Switch-Bristle-Brush
Student: Alexander Toporowicz
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Deborah Magish
School: Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Scottsdale, AZ

Description:
A paintbrush handle easily switches brush heads for different colors, bristles and sizes.

Second Place
Tool: Poirier Board
Student: Tera Poirier
Grade: 8th
Teacher: Dan Hill
School: Trinity School
Spokane, WA

Description:
A narrow ironing-board attachment pulls out to make ironing shirtsleeves and pant legs easier.

Third Place
Tool: The Handy Toilet Seat Handle
Student: Aaron Vanderwal
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Sally White
School: Brown Junior High
Henderson, NV

Description:
A handle on the seat makes using the toilet a lot more sanitary and convenient.