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Ricoh Sustainable Development Award Presented to Outstanding High School Students at Intel ISEF 2008 Special Awards Ceremony

Wednesday 21. May 2008 - Ricoh Americas Corporation presented two projects by three high school students with the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award at the 2008 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world's largest pre-college science competition, during a special awards ceremony in Atlanta on Thursday, May 15. Each project will receive a $25,000 scholarship from Ricoh Americas Corporation for their impressive environmental achievements.

The three students who received top honors at the ceremony were Erica Elizabeth David of Pinedale High School in Pinedale, Wyoming for her seven-year study of innovative snow fence designs to maximize snow capture for water conservation and reclamation in industrial settings and Michael Kaergaard Madsen and Jesper Lykke Rasmussen of Vejle Technical High School in Denmark, for the development of a prototype exhaust system for two-stroke engines to significantly reduce air pollution.

“Protecting the environment is critical to us at Ricoh, and we are proud to support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair as it brings together the top young minds on an international level,” said Robert Whitehouse, director, Environmental Management and Product Compliance, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “Bright and talented students such as Erica, Michael and Jesper are not only making a positive impact on the environment, but on our world overall.”

The Intel ISEF, presented by Agilent Technologies, provides a forum each May for more than 1,500 high school students (grades 9-12) from more than 50 countries to showcase their independent research. Each year, millions of students worldwide compete in local and school-sponsored science fairs. The winners of these events go on to participate in Intel ISEF-affiliated regional and state fairs from which the best win the opportunity to attend the Intel ISEF. A team of five judges selected the winners of the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award.

This year’s event was held at the Georgia World Conference Center, from May 11 – May 16. A stimulating week filled with discourse on issues of science, technology and social responsibility was culminated with a special award’s ceremony where the most outstanding projects in the show were honored.