Eight Project Lead The Way Students Create Patentable Products, Including Five in 2009; STEM-Education Leader Celebrates National Engineers Week by Honoring Student Innovations Such as a Remote Control Car Starter and a Device That Holds Sheet Music for Marching Band Musicians

Clifton Park, NY – Project Lead The Way, the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, announced today that eight of its students have invented a product that is either in the process of being patented – or completed the patent process. PLTW’s project-based, hands-on curriculum prepares students for success in today’s tech-driven global economy by showing students how what they learn in math and science class applies to real-world problem solving. These students have taken the learning experience one step further by actually inventing products that provide solutions to real-life problems and situations.

"Everyday in PLTW classrooms, educators encourage students to be curious about how things work and to use their imagination and creativity to discover new ideas and innovations," said John Lock, CEO of Project Lead The Way. "We congratulate the students and educators involved in these projects that are having a real-life impact in their communities. They represent the potential of what can be accomplished in schools – and are a model for the nation. In today’s 21st century global economy – where Americans are competing for jobs with their peers all over the world -- this is exactly the level of creativity and innovation we need all students to strive for."

The eight inventions by PLTW students include: • A device to assist employees (usually in the janitorial field) who have “Repetitive Strain Injury” with lifting what they need to lift to continue working; Patent status is pending (Gulliver Preparatory School Engineering Team) • A device that hold sheet music for marching band musicians; a provisional patent has been filed (Clint Downey and Jackson Cover, Jefferson high School) • A vacuum sealer and a spice grinder; a provisional patent has been filed (Ryan Watkins, Saratoga Springs High School) • A remote car starter using a cell phone; a provisional patent has been filed (Sarah Dodge, Saratoga Springs High School) • A gear synchronizer for manual transmission; a provisional patent has been filed (John Otto, Saratoga Springs High School) • Pet litter box improvement; a provisional patent has been filed (Dillon Rice, Palos Verdes High School) • Biofuel process; a provisional patent has been filed and the process is moving towards a full patent (Erica Fine, Palos Verdes High School) • A revolutionary yo-yo that has the potential to spin longer than those on the market; patent was granted and sold (Charlie Weikert, Columbus East High School). The PLTW students and educators involved in these patent projects will be honored at the organization’s 2010 National Symposium.

To set up interviews with students and to learn more about the patents, contact Lisa Cohen at lcohen@pltw.org.

About Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

PLTW is a national, non-profit organization that provides rigorous and innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for middle schools and high schools. The PLTW comprehensive curriculum, which is collaboratively developed by PLTW teachers, university educators, engineering and biomedical professionals, and school administrators, emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and real-world problem solving. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to areas of study that they typically do not pursue, and provides them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success in STEM-related fields. PLTW began in 1998 in 12 high schools in upstate New York as a program designed to address the shortage of engineering students at the college level and has grown to a network of almost 3,400 middle and high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 300,000 students are enrolled in PLTW courses. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.

###