Rebecca Lynn Soler, a fourth grader from PS 48, with her Fashion Finder accessories.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- You want genius?
How about fashion accessories that double as tracking devices?
Or handheld pharmaceutical guides?
And then there's the robot that makes cannolis!
Those are just some of the clever ideas dreamed up by Staten Island students.
The finalists of the fifth annual Antonio Meucci Young Inventors' Competition gathered yesterday to showcase their creative ideas. The students came prepared with project boards, models, and in some cases, business plans to present to the judges.
The final judging took place in the auditorium of St. Joseph's School, Rosebank. Finalists presented their inventions to judges, and friends and family proudly watched as prizes were awarded.
The annual competition, open to all Island students in grades four through eight, is sponsored each spring by the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, in conjunction with Time Warner Cable.
The 15 finalists were selected by museum staff members who reviewed more than 100 entries. The participants were asked to come up with an original idea for a new invention/product or an improvement on an existing one.
Rebecca Lynn Soler, a fourth grade student at PS 48, Concord, who took home a second-place prize in the competition, came up with the idea for fashion-finder accessories.
"Once when I was younger I got lost in a store and my mom was really scared," she shared. Her idea incorporates GPS into cute accessories such as sunglasses and headbands. Rebecca was excited to be able to combine her love for fashion into her project.
Hayden Gumb, a sixth-grade student at St. Clare's School in Great Kills, said his fascination with archeology led to his creation of a portable wrist decoder to aid archeologists. Hayden was also awarded a second-place prize.
Michael McMillen, an eighth grader at St. Joseph's School captured a first prize for a second straight year. His "pill checking" device was hatched after his brother had a negative reaction to a prescription drug.
Borough historian Thomas Matteo, who attended the judging to support the Island's budding young inventors, said: "This is a wonderful event, it stirs the imagination and intellect of children."
The competition also honors the memory of Antonio Meucci, the Italian expatriate inventor who lived in Rosebank from 1850 until his death in 1889. Meucci was responsible for many inventions, improvements and ideas. In addition to his discovery of the principle for the telephone in 1849 and his development of that instrument over the next 30 years, Meucci manufactured smokeless candles, created a tea and coffee filtering system, made improvements in oil and kerosene lamps, found a way to make paper from wood pulp, and even canned tomato sauce.
All of the young inventor finalists received prizes of some sort. Additionally, cash prizes were awarded to those who placed. There were three winners in each of the first-, second-, and third-place categories.
The judges looked for simple, creative solutions to common problems, as well as an understanding of the scientific principles behind the invention. Cash prizes were awarded.
The 15 finalists:
Rebecca Soler, PS 48, Concord; Alex Brewi from Lavelle Charter School; Sophia Rizzo, Blessed Sacrament; Allison Gass and Noelle Mele, Our Lady Star of the Sea; Ravindu Seneviratias, PS 54; John Pessolano and Michael McMillian, St. Joseph's; Olapeju Oladitan, St. Mary's; Chelsey Lin, Staten Island Academy; Alyssa Squicciarini and Hayden Gumb, St. Clare's; Katie Candelario, the Jewish Foundation School; James Borovilas, Our Lady of Good Counsel; Maame Assante, PS 58; Christian Carucci and Joseph Falcone, Our Lady Queen of Peace.
Those students who took home either a first-, second- or third-place prize:
First prize: Noelle Mele, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, for her solar powered LED "Screen Savior;" James Borovilas, Our Lady of Good Counsel, for his "Revolutionary Eco Solar Powered Car;" Michael McMillen, from St. Joseph's School for his "Pill Check."
Second prize: Hayden Gumb, St Clare's School, for his "Off Road, Upload Decoder;" Rebeccaq Lynn Soler, PS 48, for her "Fashion Finder Accessories;" Allison Gass, Our Lady Star of the Sea, for her "Attic Caddie."
Third prize: Christan Carucci, Robert Lynch and Joseph Cilento of Our Lady Queen of Peace, for their "Italian Pastry Chef;" Sophia Rizzo, Blessed Sacrament, "Solar Powered Hair Blower;" Ravindu Seneviratias, PS 54, "Draw a Scope."
To find out more about the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum and their programs you can visit their website at www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org