How To Enter

Official Rules

• Inventions must be original. Each entry should be submitted by one student working alone, with the mentorship of parent(s) and/or a teacher/mentor.
  
  
• Invention categories: (suggestions but not limited to)
  
  

  Apparel	Household
  Automotive	Lawn/Garden
  Construction	Media/Software
  Cosmetics	Medical
  Crafts	Music
  Creative Packaging	Quality of Life Improvement
  Education	Safety
  Entertainment	Sports
  Furniture	Textiles
  Games	Toys
  Home Improvement	Transportation

  
  
• Official Entry Form. Submit a neatly completed Official Entry Form with your entry.   It must be signed by the inventor, his/her parent or guardian, and his/her teacher/mentor.   The signature on this form attests to the originality of the entry and verifies that the invention submitted meets the rules of the competition.  Entry forms lacking the required signatures will be disqualified.
  
  
• Sketch of Invention.   Draw your invention with a diagram of how it works. Please use a thick, dark blue or black ink or flair pen.  No pencil.
  
  
• Essay.  Prepare a description of the invention that does not exceed 1000 words.  The description should be neatly written in black or blue ink or typed.  The description should give the name of the invention and include the following paragraphs:
  
• Paragraph 1 – Explain the use of the invention.  What does it do?
• Paragraph 2 – Explain the invention’s mechanics.   How does it work?
• Paragraph 3 – Tell how you came up with the idea.
• Paragraph 4 – Explain why you think there is a need for this invention and how people will benefit from it in society.

• Photographs.  You must send one or more clear photograph(s) of your invention that shows it in full and you using it. 
  
  
• Videos, CDs, DVDs. You may also send a video (VHS format), a CD, or a DVD of no more than 10 minutes showing your device and how it works.
  
  
• Send Your Entry Materials.   Send all entry materials including Official Entry Form, Essay, Sketch, Photo(s) and optional VHS Video, CD or DVD to:
  
  

  The National Museum of Education:
  Email Address:	80 W. Bowery Street, Suite 305, Akron, Ohio 44308
  ..:: Because of the digital size of photos & videos, please limit those submissions through mail. Line drawings and written entries may be submitted through email or fax. ::..
  Email Address:	info@nmoe.org
  Fax:	330.376.0566 or 330.376.3727

DO NOT SEND YOUR INVENTION MODEL UNLESS YOU ARE NOTIFIED BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008 THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIFTEEN SEMI-FINALISTS.  If you are notified that you have been selected as a semi-finalist, you must immediately submit a working model of your invention via Federal Express to the address provided to you upon notification to arrive no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2008.  (A Federal Express shipping charge number will be provided to you. Pack your model well; models received in broken or non-working condition will be disqualified.)  Also, you and one parent/guardian must be prepared to travel to New York City during the weekend of January 23-26 for possible national media appearances and for Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day on January 26, 2009 as a finalist and/or Grand Prize Winner.

• Entry Deadline.  All entries must be received by The National Museum of Education by 6:00 p.m. EST on Monday, November 3, 2008.  Entries received after the above date will be disqualified.  Faxed and emailed entries are acceptable, but keep in mind that photographs do not fax well, and you may have time restraints if you choose to FAX your entry on the last day.
• The National Museum of Education is not responsible for: lost, late, mutilated or illegible entries nor for mail or shipment errors or delays resulting in omission, defect, delay, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by The National Museum of Education or Sealed Air Corporation on account of technical problems, or shipment problems or errors.
  

• Please Note:
• Do not put your name or other identification on any page other than the Official Entry Form.
• Do not use report covers, binders or folders. All sheets should be 8-1/2” by 11”.
• Staple all written materials, sketch, and photo(s) including the Official Entry Form with one staple in the left-hand corner.
• Essays, sketches or diagrams, photos, videos, CDs, and DVDs will not be returned to contestants.
• Students may enter only one invention.
• Contestants who are selected as finalists and one parent/guardian must be prepared to travel to New York City during the weekend of January 23-26 and Monday, January 26, 2009 for possible media appearances and Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day.
• Permission to Duplicate. Students, teachers, and parents are welcome to duplicate any part of this competition information (including the Official Entry Form). All entries must be accompanied by a copy of the Official Entry Form.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

• This competition is open to full-time students who are in grades 5–8for the 2008–2009 school years.  These students must attend an accredited public or private school, charter school, or be home schooled, and must reside within the United States or U.S. Territories.  Employees of Sealed Air Corporation, The National Museum of Education, and each of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible.
• All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.
• All trip expenses will be awarded to the finalists and their respective parent/guardian.  There will be no substitution of trip prizes.
• Prize consists of only those items specifically listed herein as part of the prize.  Hotel accommodations do not include incidentals, tips, telephone calls, or any other personal expenses incurred during the trip.  Finalists and their respective parent/guardian must travel together.  All taxes, fees and surcharges on prize or gratuities associated with any part of the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.
  

ABOUT THE JUDGING

1. Fifteen Semi-finalists will be selected and informed by phone by Monday, November 10, 2008.  Three finalists will be selected and notified on or about December 6, 2008.

2. All entries received in accordance with the rules will be judged on the following basis:

• 35% Creativity
• 35% Practicality or Usefulness
• 15% Benefit to Society (How will it help people?)
• 10% Cost Effectiveness (Would the invention have a market?)
• 5% Clarity of essay, including spelling and grammar.

3. Each contestant is limited to one entry.

4. Winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, business executives, and educators.  The decision of the judges is final.

5. After the judging of essays, drawings, photos, videos, CDs or DVDs, semi- finalists will be selected and notified through The National Museum of Education by Monday, November 10, 2008.  Each semi-finalist must then ship his/her invention to the address provided at the time of notification.

6. Three finalists will be selected and notified on or about Saturday, December 6, 2008.  The three finalists will then be flown, along with one parent/guardian, to New York City for Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day (January 26, 2009), and the weekend before, January 23-26, 2009.  All travel arrangements, accommodations and a $50 per person, per diem for meals will be provided by Sealed Air Corporation.  All travelers must execute a Liability/Publicity Release prior to travel and must possess applicable travel documents (e.g. valid photo I.D.) prior to departure.

7. Entry materials, consisting of an essay, sketch, photo(s), video, CD or DVD will not be returned to the contestants.  Semi-finalist inventions will be returned by Sealed Air Corporation, subject to the following:  The three finalists’ inventions may be retained by Sealed Air Corporation and/or The National Museum of Education for up to 18 months, for promotional purposes.

8. Sealed Air Corporation and The National Museum of Education are granted permission, upon entry into the competition, to use (in their sole discretion) the contestant’s name, photograph, likeness, and entry materials including the invention, for publicity purposes.  Acceptance of the prizes constitutes permission to Sealed Air Corporation and its agencies to use the winner’s name and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion and trade without further compensation unless prohibited by law.  By accepting the prize awards, winners agree to hold harmless Sealed Air Corporation and The National Museum of Education, their respective officers, direct ors, agents, employees, attorneys, shareholders, partners, controlling persons, predecessors, subsidiaries, affiliates, parent corporations, insurers, successors, and assign against any and all claims and liability arising out of their participation in this promotion or the use of the prize.  Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by the participation in this promotion or use or redemption of any prize.  By participating in this promotion, contestants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges.

The Deadline for entries is November 3, 2008.

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