Sealed Air reveals semifinalists of Bubble Wrap contest

The search for America's next great young inventor is one step closer to completion. Sealed Air Corporation, the creator of Bubble Wrap brand cushioning, announced the 15 student semifinalists from grade schools around the country who remain in the running for top honors in the company's second annual Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors. Ideas for inventions using Bubble Wrap brand cushioning were submitted from children as young as age nine ranging from scientific and humanitarian to an assortment of games, toys and gadgets.

The competition, which encourages students in grades five through eight across the United States to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by designing an invention that incorporates the use of Bubble Wrap brand cushioning, attracted more than 1,400 entries from 39 states in just its second year. Students submitted original inventions along with a visual and written description that included the name of the invention, the purpose it serves, how it works and how the idea was formulated.

"We were pleased to see even more students submit entries in this year's competition and were once again impressed with the wide range of clever, creative ideas that these young inventors devised using Bubble Wrap brand cushioning," stated William V. Hickey, Sealed Air's president and chief executive officer. "Sealed Air congratulates all 15 semifinalists for their great achievement, and also would like to thank the teachers and mentors for their support and guidance. We look forward to what will surely be a difficult final round of judging to determine the three finalists and the eventual grand prize winner."

The 15 semifinalists selected, and in no particular order, are as follows:

- Olivia Snarr, 13, Kaysville, Utah - "Bubble Wrap Braille Practice Popper"- A tool designed to assist the blind in learning Braille.

- Max Wallack, 11, Natick, Mass. - "Carpal Cushion" - Wrist cushions to help avoid and/or recover from carpal tunnel syndrome.

- Kayla Weston, 11, Longwood, Fla. - "Dancing on Air" - Shock-absorbing flooring designed to minimize the wear and tear on dancers.

- Dylan Curvey, 11, Middleton, Mass. - "Bubble Wrap Car Door Cover" - A removable protective covering for the doors of parked cars.

- Andy Boler, 9, Richardson, Texas - "Bubble Wrap Plant Shelter" - A light-weight, collapse-able shelter to protect outdoor plants from the winter cold.

- Hannah Haas, 13, Charlotte, N.C. - "Sensory Wallpaper" - Wallpaper designed to engage and stimulate children with autism.

- Manoah Burden, 11, Akron, Ohio - "DNA Model" - A three-dimensional model of a DNA double helix.

- Grace Abernathy, 13, Noblesville, Ind. - "Lap Popper" - A pad designed for Alzheimer's patients who find comfort from the sound and repetition of popping.

- Nicolette Mann, 13, Christiansburg, Va. - "Transformable Bubble Wrap Kite" - A kit for constructing multiple types of flying kites.

- Lauren Strickland, 10, San Angelo, Texas - "Bubble Wrap Cushy Wheelchair" - Cushions providing added comfort to wheelchair-bound individuals.

- Elizabeth Rintels, 12, Keswick, Va. - "The Bubble Bank" - A fun way for people to save, store and display coins.

- Tanner Post, 12, Liberty, Utah - "Safe T Wrap" - An all-in-one, multi-purpose home safety/first-aid kit.

- McKenzie Iverson, 12, Lenexa, Kan. - "The Popping Servant" - Enables people who cannot speak to more easily communicate their basic needs to others.

- James Gentry, 12, Federal Way, Wash. - "Medical Bubbles" - Tiny bubbles used to dispense medicine slowly through the skin and avoid the pain of needles.

- Kelly Seaver, 13, New Canaan, Conn. - "Child's First Counting Game" - A fun game designed to help children learn to count.

In January, Sealed Air and the National Museum of Education will announce the three finalists, from this group of 15, who will each win a three-day trip to New York City, where the grand prize winner and runner-ups will be announced on Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (January 28, 2008). The grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. savings bond, while the second- and third-place winners will each receive $5,000 and $3,000 U.S. savings bonds, respectively. The remaining 12 semifinalists will each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond.

The Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors is sponsored by Sealed Air Corporation and administered by the National Museum of Education. Submissions were judged and ranked based on a series of criteria, including originality, creativity, practicality, benefit to society, marketability and feasibility, and overall presentation. For additional information on Bubble Wrap brand cushioning and the competition, visit www.bubblewrap.com.

Sealed Air is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that serve food, medical, and an array of industrial and consumer applications. For more than half a century, Sealed Air employees have applied deep understanding of customers' businesses and global trends to deliver sustainable packaging solutions. Operating in 51 countries, Sealed Air's widely recognized and respected brands include Bubble Wrap cushioning, Cryovac food packaging technologies, Jiffy protective mailers and Instapak foam-in-place systems.