HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL — A hands-free refrigerator door opener is just one of the inventions created by 36 second through eighth graders, who are being honored by the 2002 Craftsman/NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Young Inventors Awards Program. The award-winning ideas were selected from entries submitted by more than 4,300 schoolchildren across the country.
“I'm always amazed at the clever ideas percolating in the minds of kids,” stated Bob Vila, home-improvement expert and spokesperson for the program. “They love to look at a problem and create a solution — and the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program gives them that opportunity. That’s one reason a thousand more youngsters entered this year than last year.”