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Scheck Hillel Students Design Prototypes to Prevent, Respond to Natural Disasters
In a natural disaster, awareness can make the difference between life or death. As part of the CADENA Initiative - a contest of ideas to help vulnerable communities around the world - Scheck Hillel Community School Grade 8 students have developed prototypes of inventions that can help create awareness of disasters for two special populations: the hard of hearing and young children.
Maya Lev-Tov, Stephanie Ruah and Michelle Sutton designed the "Awearable," a bracelet that alerts persons with hearing loss to a specific natural event - an earthquake, tornado or hurricane. The Awearable vibrates and flashes a light, and is battery-operated. Jaime Mizrahi, Moises Sutton and Kayla Bigelman designed Disaster Control, a clever game that teaches children dos and don'ts in the event of a natural emergency. Both groups represented Scheck Hillel with distinction at the CADENA Initiative Contest and Exhibition last week, where Disaster Control received earned first place in the Honorable Mention category.
Congratulations to all student participants, including event emcees Stephanie Atri and Alex Benarroch (both Grade 9) and to Scheck Hillel Ben Lipson Upper School Design/STEM department chair and teacher Elana Lazar ('98).
About the CADENA Initiative Contest
Middle school students propose ideas or inventions to prevent or respond to natural disasters in more effective ways. The contest promotes skills such as research, critical analysis and problem solving while supporting vulnerable communities. Selflessness and compassion is further ingrained in students, creating a more rewarding experience to look back on and mold their future as empathetic individuals. The winning idea is implemented by CADENA on its Humanitarian Aid Mission.
