BKFK Contest Winners

Winners of BKFK Contests

At BKFK, many have expressed their unique style of inventiveness and creativity, and have won prizes for their innovation. Here, we celebrate such winners from our past challenges:

...........................................................................................................................................

2009 NYSE & K¹² Financial Future Challenge

Fabian is the grand prize winner of the NYSE & K¹² Financial Future Challenge. Fabian won $2500 and also got the opportunity to ring the closing bell at a celebratory event at NYSE.

Fabian for his idea " Oink-a-saurus"
Age: 12
Fabian's "Oink-a-Saurus," an Apple iPhone/iPod Touch app combines profiler, which learns about your interests by tracking your web browsing & buying habits through UPC (bar code) reader and a what-if scenario creator showing what if you saved/ invested in stocks rather than spending your money. The game also includes a social network, showing stock selections and ideas of teens matching your profile, and a news service providing teen-friendly investing info, as well as a link to a teen-friendly stock broker.

| Read more about Fabian | Finalists |

...........................................................................................................................................

2009 Best Buy & EA Invent A Game Challenge

Dan is the grand prize winner of the 2009 Best Buy and EA Invent A Game Challenge. Dan won a U.S. Savings bond of $10,000 and a trip to the Best Buy Headquarters. His game is currently under review at EA for a potential game that you could play online !

Dan for his game " Rhythm"
Age: 17
Dan Slutz, swept the judges off their feet with his video game idea "Rhythm". The Canton, Ohio resident won the 2009 Best Buy & EA Invent A Game Challenge, also presented by By Kids For Kids and United Inventors Association. Dan's idea takes you on a journey into the music world with Rhythm, the main character of his game. Rhythm’s hometown, Melody loses its access to music when someone steals the Platinum Record. Now, it’s up to Rhythm to find it!

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Do Something Advertise Your Cause Challenge

Say is the grand prize winner of the Do Something Advertise Your Cause Challenge. Say won $10,000 and a trip to the offices of Do Something in NYC.

Say for her "Eating Disorder Campaign"
Age: 18
Say wants to campaign on how much eating disorder is affecting young women's lives and why it needs to be taken very seriously. Say says, "The image in my ad is very powerful and striking. I am passionate about this cause because I have had experience with eating disorders that resulted from my childhood and teenage life in the U.S. I believe the image becomes more powerful when I can present my personal experience into this ad.”

| Say's trip to Do Something | Finalists |

............................................................................................................................................

2008 The Weather Channel Akitas To Zebras Animal Challenge

Nicholas is the grand prize winner of the Akitas to Zebras Animal Challenge.

Nicholas for his "Clean and Safe Pet Dish"
Age: 16
Clean and Safe Pet Dish is a combination of dog or cat food and water bowl. The bowls have covers that open and close whenever they sense the sensor in the dog or cat’s collar, and stay open as long as the pet is there. Different bowls and collars will prevent the cat from eating the dog food and vice versa.

............................................................................................................................................

2008 That's Me On TV! Challenge

13-year-old Jonathan is the winner of the 2008 That's Me On TV! Challenge.

Jonathan for "Hot Places for Cool Kids"
Age: 13
Hot Places for Cool Kids is a travel and entertainment show about kids traveling to new places. Jonathan says, "Kids and families like to travel, have fun, and enjoy places and my show can introduce them to a new place where they may want to travel too and have fun. I will go to cool places like the LA County Fair, cruises, theme parks, anywhere families and kids go and show people at home how kids can have fun at that place."

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Design Squad Trash to Treasure Competition

The Grand Prize winner of the Trash to Treasure Competition is Max for his invention of the "The Home Dome". Max won $10,000, a laptop powered by Intel, and a trip to Boston to see his design built.

Max for "Home Dome"
Age: 12
Max's invention redefines a makeshift dwelling, which he calls “The Home Dome.” Max recalls: “When I was six, I won an invention contest that included a trip to Chicago. While there, I saw homeless people living on streets, and beneath highways and underpasses. I felt very sorry for these people, and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. My invention improves the living conditions for homeless people, refugees, or disaster victims by giving them easy-to-assemble shelter."

............................................................................................................................................

2008 CosmoGirl! Mind Your Own Business Challenge

Maya is the grand prize winner of the CosmoGirl! Mind Your Own Business Entrepreneurial Challenge. Maya won $10,000 and a trip to the offices of Time Out New York in NYC.

Maya for "Surprise Industries"
Age: 19
Maya describes her winning idea, Surprise Industries, as a web based business that provides ‘surprising’ experiences to its customers. For a fee, one will select their area of choice where they would like their experience and Surprise Industries matches you up with fun and unique activities ranging from glass blowing to an engaging charity event like painting an elementary school.

| Maya's trip to Time Out NY | Finalists |

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Unleash Your Locker Challenge

The Grand Prize winner of the Unleash Your Locker is Rhonesha for her social entrepreneurship web portal HerAgenda.com. Rhonesha won $500 and a trip to an innovative company, provided by the Kauffman Foundation.

Rhonesha for her "HerAgenda.com"
Age: 19
Rhonesha's winning idea is well conceived and developed BETA website, HerAgenda.com. The website encourages women to never lose site of their dreams! Inspired by Rhonesha's own personal philosophy, "No one ever slows her agenda," a comment on her own personal ambition and drive, HerAgenda.com will feature 30 bloggers from a wide range of occupations and will also encourage mentorship between successful women and those just starting out.

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Pearson Digital Arts Challenge

The Grand Prize winner of the Digital Arts Challenge is Alyssa for her graphic novel, " The Guardians. She won $10,000 and a trip to shadow a professional at the Pearson Publishing Company.

Alyssa for her "The Guardians"
Age: 15
Alyssa, from Irvine, CA, depicts a new kind of hero in the “The Guardians”. Uncovering the challenging nature of the color guard, where dancers spin, toss and catch flags, rifles or sabers, Alyssa has conceived an edge-of-your-seat graphic novel that stars five heroines. Naturally, the girls dance on their high school’s “sport of the arts” color guard squad, but their real job is to protect the President of the United States. Lacking superpowers, they instead rely on brains, personality, confidence, and hard work to become better teammates.

| Alyssa's trip to the Pearson Publishing house | Finalists |

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Tommy Hilfiger Signature Style Challenge

The Grand Prize winner of the Signature Style Challenge is Rachel for her Retro Modern design. She won $10,000 and a trip to the Tommy Hilfiger Studios!

Rachel for her “Retro Modern”
Age: 17
Rachel believes in 'Retro Fashion' with a twist. Her designs are inspired from the past but are smartly adjusted to fit into current fashion trends. She blends vintage patterns and modern designs for a collection she thinks is bound to turn heads. And surely enough, Rachel has been chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of the BKFK Signature Style Challenge.

| Rachel's trip to the Tommy Hilfiger Studios | Finalists |

............................................................................................................................................

2008 Newell Rubbermaid Sports Evolution Challenge

The Grand Prize winner of the Sports Evolution Challenge is Douglas for his Roller Boggin invention. He won $10,000 and a 'meet n greet' with an ESPN sportscaster!

Douglas for his “Roller Boggin”
Age: 15
Douglas enjoyed skateboarding but like many other kids, it took him a long time before he could stand up on the board. He decided to create something that was as much fun as skateboard but a whole lot easier, safer and cool. He combined his snow sled and skateboard to create a sitting or kneeling version of a skateboard. The Roller Boggin is propelled by hand, arm and upper body thrusting movements. Speed & height come from thrusting against a rolled outer edge. There are inside bungee-type cords inside the ‘boggin’ for additional thrusting power, steering and ‘snap.’

| Douglas meets ESPN sportscaster Dan Shulman | Finalists |

............................................................................................................................................
2008 The Weather Channel Going Green Challenge

The Grand Prize winner of the Going Green Challenge is Elizabeth for her Water Watcher invention. She won $10,000 and a trip to shadow an expert from the 11th Hour Action Site!

Elizabeth for her “Water Watcher”
Age: 12
Realizing just how much water it took to take a shower, Elizabeth began seeking a way to make everyone more aware of their water usage. After learning that reducing her shower time only by one minute would save 1,000 gallons of water per year, she was driven to find a smarter way of utilizing this valuable resource. Elizabeth created “The Water Watcher”, a device that can be fastened to any faucet. It signals a red light and sounds a beep every time a half-gallon of water is used. Elizabeth hopes this will keep everyone more conscientious in just how much water they use up in their everyday life.

| Elizabeth's trip to 1Sky to shadow a green expert | Finalists |

...........................................................................................................................................
2007 BKFK- Maryland Get Your Head in the Game Sports Challenge

Get Your Head in the Game Sports Challenge winners were celebrated at a press conference at Camden Yards. They were also presented awards at the Orioles Park by Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools and Norm Goldstein, CEO of BKFK.

Moira Plantier for her "Pop N Catch Lacrosse Stick"
When Moira was age 9 she wanted a way to practice lacrosse when she was by her self or with out the use of a large wall. Moira took the traditional lacrosse stick one step further and made it into a learning tool. The Pop N Catch Lacrosse Stick has a lacrosse ball connected to one end of a stretchy rope and the other end to the lacrosse stick. By doing this she made it possible to practice lacrosse all by your self.

Frank Jiogo for his “Awesome Soccer Juggler”
Frank was 10 when he decided he wanted to figure out a better way to count how many times he can juggle a soccer ball. He got tired of loosing count or having someone else have to count for him. Frank has invented The Awesome Soccer Juggler, his idea is a soccer ball with a built in counter. Now when frank juggles a soccer ball he won’t have to worry about loosing count the ball will do it for him. He wants to use The Awesome Soccer Juggler and challenge his friends to see who can get to juggle the ball the most times.

............................................................................................................................................

2007 BKFK-Staples Invention Quest

The winners of the 2007 Staples Invention Quest were announced at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City and presented with a $25,000 cash prize. The runners up received $5,000.

Keagan Bolibol for her “Problem Pad”
Keagan is a 10-year-old fourth-grader from Woodinville, Wash. Her invention, the Problem Pad, is a dry erase page with various learning tools that fits into a binder. While working on a difficult homework assignment, Keagan realized there had to be an easy way to keep her homework from turning out so messy. After talking with her father, she came up with the Problem Pad.

............................................................................................................................................

2006 BKFK- Maryland Cool School Tools Inventor Challenge

Cool School Tools Inventor Challenge winners were celebrated at a live press conference during “BKFK Kid Inventor Day” at Camden Yards on Friday May 12, 2006. The school children then threw out the first pitch of the game and took a bow on the field under the Baltimore blue skies right before the Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 in front of a crowd of over 30,000 fans.

	Eric B.B. for his “Recording Folder” Eric is a second grader in Anne Arundel County, MD. The “Recording Folder” is a school folder featuring a built-in microphone kids can use to record their homework assignments or other important school notes. No more excuses like “I forgot to write it down!”
	Caitlyn E. for her “ Eraselet” Caitlyn is a second grader in Charles County, MD. To create the “Eraselet” Caitlin ran an elastic band through a pink eraser and added beads that spelled out ERASELET. Now not only are kids’ accessories fashionable, they are functional too.
	Brenda S. for her “Eye Paper” Brenda is a fourth grader in Baltimore, MD. Inspired by a schoolmate who is blind, Brenda created “Eye Paper,” which is simply paper with raised lines to help visually impaired students know where to write. The paper can also be scented. This gives kids with visual impairments more independence in the classroom, allowing them to write on ordinary-sized school paper
	Emily S. for her “School For Pencils” Emily is a third grader in Charles County, MD. The “School for Pencils” is a pencil holder that mounts to the classroom wall and holds pencils for the entire class. The “School For Pencils” is shaped like a house made of pencils. This solves the problem of kids not having a pencil – each morning kids pick up a pencil on their way into the class and return it to the “School for Pencils” at the end of the day.

............................................................................................................................................

2006 BKFK- Xerox Invent-A-Toy World Games

The winners of the 2006 Invent-A-Toy World Games were celebrated at a live press conference at the Jacob Javits Center, 2006 Licensing Show in New York City.

	Jacob S. for his “EZ Transitional Training Wheels" Jacob, 6 from California invented a new way to learn how to ride a bike. The training wheels adjust in and out on a scale of 1-10. Day 1 the wheels are all the way out which makes the bike very stable (like standard training wheels). Each day you progress to a higher number (the wheels move in closer to the bike) which makes the bike less stable and the rider better balanced.
	Ana L. for her "Hands on Hand Clap Games" Ana, 12 from Pennsylvania invented an electronic game that lets you play hand clap games with only one person. She invented it because she liked hand clap games and did not always have someone to play with. All you need to do is choose your rhyme, your level and press start!.
	Russell Moore for his "Water Tag Game" Russell, 12 from Connecticut invented a fun way to play tag, especially for the summer. Each player wears a vest that has four plugs with long ribbons of fabric. When any plug is pulled, water is released from the vest, getting the player soaked!

............................................................................................................................................