ThinkQuest NYC 2008 - Specical Awards
The Gail Shell Award

Background: This award is designed to honor the memory of Gail Shell (1943-2003). For over 35 years, Mrs. Shell devoted herself to teaching children in ways that would inspire them for the rest of their lives. With a perfect balance of genius, creativity, empathy and poise, Mrs. Shell encouraged her students to become independent, creative thinkers. She challenged them to think outside the box and to believe in their own power to effect change.

One of Mrs. Shell's last and greatest projects involved leading a group of Special Education students in a conservation project at The Gateway School of New York. Utilizing technology and multidisciplinary teaching techniques, Mrs. Shell enabled her students to turn their creative ideas into real results through the extensive study of an endangered species, the Giant River Otter of South America. The children collaborated with scientists in several countries, began relationships with pen pals in Guyana and raised money to help save this animal. Before Mrs. Shell passed away, she helped her students begin the construction of a website where they could describe their project to the world. In June 2004, nine months after Mrs. Shell's death, the website won first prize in Division I of the ThinkQuest New York City competition.

Eligibility: Team eligibility is the same as the ThinkQuest New York City Internet Challenge, with participation limited to teams in Division I (grades 3-6)   Judging: Judging will follow the rubric of the ThinkQuest New York City Internet Challenge and the supplementary requirements for this special award.

Project description: Students are encouraged to use the power of technology to teach others about the wonders of the natural world. Teams may consider any topic involved with the natural sciences and conservation, which includes but is not limited to preserving of endangered or threatened species and their habitats, wildlife science, research and environmental efforts related to wildlife and wild places, environmental impacts of human activities and the importance of preservation for future generations.

Teams will receive additional points for incorporating a community-building aspect into their web-site projects. Teams should consider but are not limited to a school-wide education program on their topic, a school-based fundraising effort, a letter-writing campaign to policy/government officials, creating an active online community around the chosen topic, connecting with other educational institutions to explore the topic and community visits or programs to increase the visibility or awareness of their topic.

Prizes:  Each member of the winning team will receive a new laptop computer.  The coach or coaches will receive Best Buy gift certificates totaling $1,000.  The winning school will receive a Best Buy gift certificate for $1,000.

Other considerations: Only one TQNYC team will receive the Gail Shell Environmental Education Award. A team that receives the Gail Shell Award is not eligible to win a ThinkQuest New York City First place award within its judging division, although it may be considered for both.

Click here for the complete list of TQNYC's Competition Rules