| The Stanley and Lucy Lopata Excellence
In Creativity Award Introduction
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Lopata of the Lopata Research and Development Corporation
have recognized the importance of encouraging the development of creativity
in young minds, particularly as it relates to solving scientific and technical
problems. In order to foster creativity, they have established an endowment
to stimulate student interest in creative problem-solving and provided
recognition for demonstrating outstanding creativity. Since 1994, Mr.
and Mrs. Stanley Lopata have sponsored the Excellence in Creativity Award.
The purposes of the award are to:
- Encourage students to broaden and hone their creativity and develop
analogous reasoning and problem-solving skills and
- To identify and reward students whose problem-solving ability and
creative talents indicate potential for significant contributions to
the fields of science, mathematics or technology.
The Award
Each year students who demonstrate, via written proposals, the most unique,
creative and appropriate solutions to scientifically or technically based
problems are recognized with award plaques and cash honorariums.
Four awardees will be selected. The first place winner will receive $2,500.
The second place winner will receive $1,500. The third and fourth place winners will
receive $1,000. The cash honorarium
will be given to the winners upon enrollment in the University
of Missouri-St. Louis. The awards will be announced during
the annual Junior Science, Engineering and Humanities Symposium to be
held in March. The award is administered by the Science Education Programs
Office.
Eligibility and Participation
All students participating in the Junior Science, Engineering and Humanities
Symposium are eligible to participate. Students in Missouri public and
private schools in grades ten, eleven and twelve are eligible to submit
proposals. Proposals may be submitted either by an individual or by a
team with up to four members. All team members must meet eligibility requirements,
and winning teams will divide the cash award equally.
Submission of Proposal
Proposals must provide a solution to a real scientific or technical problem,
process or phenomenon. The overall project must be the unique and sole
work of the individual or group of individuals submitting the proposal.
Solutions must be within the natural or physical parameters as opposed
to the supernatural. The information provided must stand alone on its
merits and completeness. Any data or supportive information must be identified
and fully referenced.
Proposals must be accompanied by the official Submission Form, and must
be postmarked or registered to be delivered on or before 5:00 p.m. on February 10. Late proposals or those
not precisely fitting the prescribed format cannot be accepted or considered.
Only hard copies of proposals will be accepted. Electronic transmission
or Facsimile transmission of proposals is not accepted.
Evaluation Criteria
A panel of judges will evaluate each proposal on its individual merit
with respect to the following:
- Creativity applied and the uniqueness of the solution (40 points)
- The practicality and workability of the solution (20 points)
- Demonstrated understanding of the scientific process (10 points)
- Overall knowledge of the topic (10 points)
- Impact on existing systems or degree of side effects of solution
(10 points)
- The significance of the problem (5 points)
- Clarity, directness, succinctness, format and professional style
of the presentation (5 points)
Decision of the judges is final and re-submission or re-evaluations will
not be allowed.
For more information contact:
The Stanley and Lucy Lopata Excellence in Creativity Award
University of Missouri-St. Louis
R239 Research Complex
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
Telephone: (314) 516-6226
Fax: (314) 516-6233
E-mail: granger@umsl.edu |
