Imaginative Kids Invited to Enter TOYchallenge 2006

(San Diego, CA) - Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering and the design process. Sally Ride Science™ is giving students in grades five through eight the chance to step out of their classrooms and develop their engineering and design skills by creating their dream toy for the fourth annual TOYchallenge™.

The mission of this fun-fueled toy- and game-design competition is to motivate kids, especially girls, to get involved in engineering design and recognize that there's engineering in everything.

“TOYchallenge provides kids with a really fun way to explore the principles of science and engineering, they’ll also learn valuable lessons in problem solving and team work along the way,” said Sally Ride, founder of Sally Ride Science. “It is a great tool for keeping middle school-age children, especially girls, in the ‘technical pipeline.’”

TOYchallenge 2006 will launch on September 12, 2005. Creative kids can easily join in the fun. The competition is open to fifth through eighth graders in the U.S., its territories, or possessions, and Canada during the Fall 2005/Spring 2006 school year. Team size can range from three to six members, half of which must be girls. To get started, teams must: find an adult coach (18 years of age, or older) and sign up this fall (fee is $45 per team); then choose from themed-toy categories like “Games for the Family” or “Get out and Play” and start brainstorming.

Further TOYchallenge information is available at www.TOYchallenge.com. All submissions will be judged on originality, creativity, engineering elegance, feasibility, design process description, team participation and clarity of communication.

Last year’s grand prizes included trips to Space Camp® and the creation of personalized Hasbro figures in each team member’s likeness. There will also be awards in each category, and special awards for design, most educational, engineering, originality and team spirit.

TOYchallenge (www.TOYchallenge.com) is designed to engage middle school-age students, especially girls, in science and engineering and to inspire them to pursue careers in those fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprise only 11 percent of the engineering workforce. However, studies show that, in elementary school, equal numbers of girls and boys are interested in--and good at--math, science and technology. Unfortunately, beginning around the sixth grade, more girls than boys drift away from these subjects. While open to all U.S. and Canadian students in grades five through eight, TOYchallenge focuses on catching girls’ attention in these subjects in order to keep them in the engineering “pipeline.” Hasbro, Inc. is a founding sponsor of the competition. Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society serves as a principal sponsor for the third year running. Southwest Airlines is the official airline of TOYchallenge for the second year in a row.

Sally Ride Science
Sally Ride Science™ was founded by astronaut Sally Ride to support the large numbers of girls and young women who are, or might become, interested in science, math and technology. The company creates science experiences for girls that empower them, engage them and encourage their interests. Current programs include Sally Ride Science Festivals, Sally Ride Science Camps, TOYchallengeTM, and the Sally Ride Science ClubTM. To learn more about Sally Ride Science, visit www.SallyRideScience.com or call 800.561.5161.