Safety issues give students impetus for inventions

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 4:33 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: April 12, 2003

A safer pool cover and a childproof book of matches have earned student inventors from Hyde Park Middle School spots as semifinalists in a nationwide competition.

Two teams from Hyde Park's Math and Science Academy, a Clark County School District magnet program, were selected as semifinalists in the annual event, sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Hyde Park students Benjamin Del Rosario, Noah Duran, Bryan Penalosa and Chris Preuss decided to tackle swimming pool safety after researching the frequency of accidental drownings in Southern Nevada. They also interviewed rescue personnel and evaluated pool covers on the market.

The seventh graders devised a foam pool cover encased in waterproof felt that affixes to the rim of the pool, preventing anyone from slipping between the cover edge and the water.

The second Hyde Park team -- Kristin Jorgensen, MacKenzie Kenner and Kyle Bryant -- developed a safer matchbook after learning that two-thirds of all fires involving young children are caused by playing with matches.

The students tested their design, which includes two hooks and latches on the cover, on children ages 4 to 8. While the oldest children tested were able to unlatch the hooks after about 20 seconds, children younger than 7 were unable to open the matchbook.

The matchbook may soon be more than just a contest design. It's being patented, and there are plans to market the idea. The team already has talked with the Diamond Match Co.

Of the 30 semifinalists chosen from middle schools throughout the country, 10 teams will be invited later this month to compete in the final round of competition at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Hyde Park has sent a team to the finals for each of the last five years.

"We're developing a real dynasty," said James Kuzma, principal of Hyde Park. "Our students put a lot of thought and extra work into their proposals. I'm proud of them for making it this far."

Kuzma also credited teacher Steve Lloyd, who has supervised the school's teams since the competition's inception seven years ago.

Lloyd said both of this year's teams have a strong chance of making it to the final round.

Formerly known as the Bayer/ NSF Award, the Christopher Columbus Awards challenges students to identify a problem in their community and come up with a scientifically sound solution.