Children of invention

Two Monticello second-graders win national prize

MONTICELLO, NY — George L. Cooke Elementary School second-graders Truth Muller and John-Paul Mauer have won second place in Toshiba’s National ExploraVision Science Competition (grades K-3) for their invention, the Pet Dream Automatic Pet Door and Tattoo Pen.

The boys’ invention would allow a pet owner to use a special pen that would tattoo a metallic pigment inside their pet’s ear. The tattoo would activate a magnet in the door, making it open automatically when the pet approached. This way, the family cat or dog could get in and out of the house without disturbing its owners.

The inspiration for the invention came to Truth from listening to his father complaining about having to get up to let the family cat in and out of the house, which according to Truth, could range up to 100 times a day.

Earlier this year, the boys won the regional segment of the competition from a pool of more than 14,000 entries. For their regional award, they received a Toshiba laptop for their school, and used it to prepare for the national competition, which required them to create a five-page web site explaining all the facets of their project. Monticello district staff developer Yesenia Kreeger worked with the boys to create the award-winning site, complete with a slide show and voice-overs.

For their national award, the boys each win a $5,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC in July with their parents and their teacher/coach, Linda Randall, to attend the official awards ceremony.

The boys’ winning web site is at www.exploravision.org.