Commack Student's Invention Takes Top Honors

A Commack student's innovative idea to help prevent gasoline spills is garnering national attention. 

David Li was selected as a winner of the Student Ideas for a Better America contest for his design of an emergency shut-off valve. He received $100 and is eligible for induction into the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors. 

Li, while an eighth-grader at Commack Middle Schoo, created an invention designed to help in case of earthquakes or burst oil pipelines. He recognized that during earthquakes, one of the major causes of death and damage is fire, due to ruptured gas lines. Li designed an emergency shut off valve which automatically shuts off gas supply when excessive gas flow is sensed. The valve has a simple structure, low manufacturing cost and a wider potential use to aid in preventing household accidents such as burst water or gas pipelines. 

SIBA  is a national invention competition for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and a college division. It is an ongoing contest throughout the year that selects one winner per division each month, who receives a $100 award and certificate of accomplishment.