CHICAGO, JUNE 12, 2006 - Illinois students in grades K-12 won a contest sponsored by GE by showing that they have imagination and artistry reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci. The contest, which was inspired by the new exhibit Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius at the Museum of Science and Industry, challenged kids to develop their own ideas for new inventions while learning about the legacy of the extraordinary inventor and artist in the classroom and at home.

"Innovation has always been at the heart of GE's mission, and this was a wonderful opportunity to inspire kids to think and create. We were so amazed by their creativity that it was hard to narrow it down to just a few winners," said Jeffrey A. Malehorn, President and CEO of GE Healthcare Financial Services. "At age five, da Vinci was sketching and at age 14 he was an apprentice with renowned painters of his time - that's the type of curiosity and talent we aimed to encourage in these children."

Thirteen grand prize winners, one for each grade level, won four free tickets for themselves and each of their homeroom classmates to see Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius. Ten additional winners per grade each received four free passes to the exhibit.

Through the contest, GE asked students to draw ideas for inventions and explain how they would work. While the innovations ranged in size and scope, many had a common theme: leveraging water and air as energy, robotics to assist with everyday tasks, time-saving inventions to care for pets, parents and friends. And the most common entry: "a machine to do my homework."

Grand prize winners include:

• Angelina Valez: Kindergarten, Happy Days Day Care, Berwyn, Ill. - A garbage can that automatically sorts and recycles trash

• Eric Ligas, First Grade, Skinner Elementary School, Chicago, Ill. - EcoBot: a robot that cleans polluted air caused by cars and trucks

• Sharika Elahi, Second Grade, Decatur Classical, Chicago, Ill. - A watch that plays games, movies and more

• Kayla Moore, Third Grade, Winchester Elementary, Winchester, Ill. - A laundry machine that automatically sorts, washes, dries, irons and folds clothes

• Narcisse Robles, Fourth Grade, St. Odilo, Berwyn, Ill. - A directory for special needs people that includes a listing of resources sorted by disability

• Sydney Dunn, Fifth Grade, East Richard Elementary School, Olney, Ill. - An indoor, electronic dog walker

• Alexander Gomez, Sixth Grade, West Belden Campus of Chicago International Charter School, Chicago, Ill. - A boat that is fueled by water instead of gasoline

• Nela Delija, Seventh Grade, Chippewa Middle School, Des Plaines, Ill. - An oil filtration machine that can be used to clean water a the pool or at the beach

• Ashley Stone, Eighth Grade, John L. Nash Middle School, Clifton, Ill. - A self-contained tool that automatically cleans your car windows when you roll them down

• Chelsea Snare, Ninth Grade, Calgary Baptist Academy, Canton, Ill. - A computerized refrigerator that reorders refrigerated or frozen items when you are running low

• Hannah Seaman, Tenth Grade, Calgary Baptist Academy, Canton, Ill. - An electric window blind cleaner

• Morgan Oller, Eleventh Grade, Calgary Baptist Academy, Canton, Ill. - A remote controlled window that enables you to open and shut it from the comforts of your couch

• Stephanie Tampkins, Twelfth Grade, Calgary Baptist Academy, Canton, Ill. - A shoe that can go from flats to heels with the push of a button

For more information about "Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor and Genius," visit www.msichicago.org.

GE is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com

Media Contacts

Deia Campanelli
GE Healthcare Financial Services
312-441-6169