YOUNG THINKERS TURN IDEAS INTO ACTION

Lisa Schubert, 11; Sam Perry, 13; Jade McGillem, 12

The Invent America program helps children develop creative, innovative thinking skills by teaching them to create their own inventions in order to solve everyday problems. It is an educational program developed by the non-profit United States Patent Model Foundation.

This is the fifth year of the national competition, which took place in Washington, D.C., in late July. One student invention from each grade, kindergarten through eighth, is selected from each state. From the state winners, 45 regional winners are named. The regional winners, their parents and a teacher travel to Washington where the national winners are announced.

In addition to the national competition, the organization provides teacher training and in-service programs and provides education materials for public and private elementary and middle schools.

For more information about the materials and contest write: United States Patent Model Foundation, Courthouse Square, 510 King Street, Suite 420, Alexandria, Va. 22314. Or phone (703) 684-1836.

Cookiematic

Who: Joshua Sanchez, 10, Grade 4, Center Elementary, Marion, Ind.

Inspiration: School project to think of new uses for the wheel.

What is it? "It's sort of like a Styrofoam circle with edges on it. You just put the cookie cutters on and roll it and it cuts eight (cookies)."

What problem does it solve? Can cut eight cookies at one time instead of just one.

Highest prize: $200 savings bond.

Miscellaneous: Joshua has seen his invention elsewhere. "Yesterday in Kmart, we saw that West Germany has already gotten my idea."

Two-liter Floater

Who: Heather Hamilton, 11, Grade 5, Jones Middle School, Marion

Inspiration: Recycling problem.

What is it? "It's like a raft. You just use two- liter bottles, and you don't have to inflate it and it doesn't get punctured."

What problem does it solve? "It floats on water and recycles two-liter bottles."

Highest prize: $200 savings bond

Miscellaneous: State winner

Color Car Wax

Who: Vanessa Hess, 13, Grade 7, Craig Middle School, Indianapolis

Inspiration: "My dad said he had a scratch on his car, and when he was waxing it it showed up really bad. And so I said, `Why don't you just buy color car wax?' And then he said, `There's no such thing.' Then I thought there should be."

What is it? Car wax with food coloring in it.

What problem does it solve? "When you have a scratch on the car and you wax it with regular car wax, it usually makes the scratch white and stick out more."

Highest prize: $200 savings bond, camera and plaque for her school.

Miscellaneous: Vanessa thinks her invention will have an impact on the future. "(It will) on cars because there are so many teen-agers and guys that are all interested in their cars. They'll probably use it."

Carousel Refrigerator

Who: Nicole Klein, 7, Grade 1, St. Mary's School, New Albany

Inspiration: "My cousin and I just thought of it."

What is it? "It's a square box and it has plastic gold stuff around it. It has carousels inside of it and it has a little thing you put inside of it and you turn the carousels." (Put it in the refrigerator.)

What problem does it solve? It makes it easier for handicapped people to get things in the back of the refrigerator.

Highest prize: $500 savings bond

Miscellaneous: Nichole was the 1991 first-grade regional winner from the 10-state Midwest area. She traveled to Washington in July to compete nationally.

Other Indiana winners are: Shawn Hodges, Grade 2, Licking Elementary School, Hartford City; Lauren DeWell, Grade 3, Acton Elementary School, Acton; Travis Albright, Grade 6, Caston Education Center, Fulton; William Ehlers, Grade 8, St. Mary's School, New Albany.