Automatic Screen Cleaner wipes away school Innovation Competition

An innovative hay feeding bag and an automatic screen cleaner took a clean sweep at the Young Innovator Awards (YiA) in Tauranga late last month.
Jonathan Kent from Tauranga Boys’ College won the Senior Category with his Automatic Screen Cleaner concept and Savana Woodcock of Katikati College won the junior category with her Handy Hay Bag.
INSTEP manager Lyn Parlane says the interest in the awards was huge and the quality of the entries from the eight Western Bay of Plenty secondary schools demonstrated excellent organisational and goal setting skills.
“Overall the judges felt the entries were well researched and well done, although more focus was needed on sustainability,” says Parlane.
Judges were extremely impressed with the technical and engineering nature of Jonathan Kent’s winning senior entry.
Jonathan developed an automatic screen cleaner that uses rake/hair brush motion to remove vegetation automatically from Ngatuhoa Lodge’s hydro generator screen (made of lots of metal bars).
Currently the caretaker removes vegetation from the screen every ten minutes to an hour depending on the weather.
Judges were amazed to learn that all of the work was undertaken by Jonathan, which included the construction and installation of a fully functioning design of his product.  “The work embodied in this project was of a very high standard,” says Parlane.
Savana Woodcock’s winning junior entry The Handy Hay Bag consists of a metal frame combined with durable material that contains the hay and allows the animals to feed, without them destroying the bale. Currently when feeding small farm animals (e.g. sheep, goats) via blocks of hay, the animals often rip the bales and play with it, rather than eating it.
“The judges felt Savana’s entry was well researched and could see this product selling,” says Parlane.
Students were judged on five criteria (creativity, innovation, communication, research and sustainability) and were charged with inventing new products and services or modifying existing ones.
More than 130 online registrations were received, double what was expected.
The awards are part of Priority One’s INSTEP programme, which aims to increase the understanding of successful business practice through schools.
The judging panel comprised of representatives from local businesses: Woods Creative judged creativity, Trimax judged innovation, Locus Research judged communication and research and EnviroState judged sustainability. Other key partners include Moca Web Creations, Village Public Relations, Page Macrae and Creative Tauranga.
Both Jonathon and Savana received a cheque for $1000 each and the opportunity to be mentored by a local businessperson. The prize money was donated by Page Macrae and Priority One. Certificates were awarded to the top entries in each criteria.
Students could compete in teams, or as individuals, in Junior (Year 9 and 10) and Senior (Years 11 to 13) categories.
Priority One’s INSTEP Programme aims to increase students’, teachers’, principals’ and parents’ understanding of “business” and how it relates to economic growth, the value and relevance of education and future employment opportunities within the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region.
TOP ENTRIES IN EACH CATEGORY:
The Inaugural Young Innovator of the Year 2010
Supreme Winners
Junior – Handy Hay Bag; Savana Woodcock, Katikati College
Senior – Automatic Screen Cleaner; Jonathon Kent, Tauranga Boys’ College
INNOVATION
Senior – Blue Tone Beep Set; Hayley Butler & Mikkayla Leckie, Mount Maunganui College
Junior – Hay Bag; Savana  Woodcock, Katikati College
CREATIVITY
Senior – Gasham Axe; Tylar Blaymires, Te Puke High School 
Junior – Radio Control Top Dressing Aeroplane; Alex Hart, Mount Maunganui College   
RESEARCH
Senior – Automatic Screen cleaner; Jonathon Kent, Tauranga Boys’ College
Junior – Aero Bubble; Stanton Kindley & Louis Yarrell-    Kemp, Katikati College
COMMUNICATION
Senior – A Kiss Goodbye – Music Group; Rory Malone,     Bethlehem College
Junior – Handy Hay Bag; Savana Woodcock, Katikati College
SUSTAINABILITY
Senior – Energy Producing Power Poles; Devon Campny, Josh Bruderer & Nick Ross, Te Puke High School
Junior – Drive Safe; Tara Parsons, Tauranga Girls’ College