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| Michael O'Leary / The Herald
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| Jordan Steeves, 18, who graduated from Everett High School last week, recently won $5,000 for his school and $5,000 for himself in a statewide science contest with his entry, an environmentally friendly water bottle. |
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| CONTACT THE HERALD |
Melanie Munk, Features Editor
munk@heraldnet.com |
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Published: Monday, June 15, 2009
Super Kid: Jordan Steeves, 18, Everett High School senior
Science reward: Jordan Steeves recently earned $5,000 for his Everett High School science program and $5,000 for himself by winning a statewide Imagine Tomorrow competition at Washington State University.
Winning entry: The task was to find a way to change people's behavior.
His idea: Environmentally friendly water bottles made of 70 percent paper and 30 percent plastic. They're similar to milk cartons.
Elation: On hearing that he won, Steeves was ecstatic. "I was like, 'Yes. All my hard work accumulated into that one moment.'"
Product name and motto: "Cykle" and "Replant Your Future."
Reasoning: His water bottles can degrade in five years while plastic ones could take 1,000 years. "I want to start a company that makes a difference and changes the behavior of the public. This is like my dream." He said such an endeavor that could include a local recycling center would be in line with the "green jobs" President Barack Obama has advocated.
Product: Steeves had Tetra Pak, a Texas-based plant that manufactures cartons, print his design on the prototypes he presented.
Motivation: He remembers a phone call with his dad who was in Florida a few years ago. His father was describing the beauty of the waterfront at Miami Beach with one exception: strewn plastic water bottles. "I just started thinking about that image."
Teacher's thoughts: When she saw what Jordan was working on, Everett High School chemistry teacher Addie Smith urged him to enter it into the Imagine Tomorrow competition. "His idea is revolutionary, and I sincerely feel the world will be seeing it in the marketplace very soon."
Future: Steeves plans to attend Western Washington University and study environmental science.
Rigor: His senior year schedule at Everett High School included college-level advanced placement classes in chemistry, biology and English as well as Running Start classes at Everett Community College in psychology and Spanish.
Going green: He was president of his school's environmental club, which volunteered with cleanups.
Favorite book: "Stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert.
Favorite movie: "Ace Ventura"
Favorite music: Bob Marley.
Deep roots: A product of Everett schools, Jordan attended Madison Elementary School, North Middle School and Everett High School.
Enjoying Everett: He likes mountain biking at Japanese Gulch and skimboarding at Howarth Park. Skimboarding is like a combination of snowboarding and skateboarding on water.
Hard work ahead: The summer heat of Montana awaits. He's planning to help his grandparents bale hay in Big Sky country.
Family matters: Jordan has a mix of siblings -- an older sister, a stepbrother, a half brother and a half sister. "They're a lot of fun."
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com
Know a super kid?: E-mail schoolfyi@heraldnet.com.
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