Siblings Lanie and Kyler Kuykendall Honored as Finalists in This Years’ K’NEXpert Building Contest
Amarillo, TX Siblings Awarded $1,000 Savings Bonds from K’NEX Brands
Hatfield, PA (Vocus) November 18, 2009
K’NEX Brands, one of the world’s leading construction toy manufacturers, has chosen siblings Lanie and Kyler Kuykendall as finalists in its 2010 K’NEXpert Search. The nationwide search asks kids ages 5-12 to submit original designs made entirely out of K’NEX pieces. Lanie, 8, and Kyler, 11, live with their parents in Amarillo, TX.
Lanie won in the 7-8 year-old category with her K’lubhouse build. Out of K’NEX pieces, she built a life size playhouse with a ceiling fan, sink, table, chair, and plate, drawing inspiration from her real house.
Kyler won in the 9-12 year-old category with his model of a K’NEXanoid, a robot over six feet tall that Kyler can stand and walk in. The model utilizes eight motors, holds and releases 120 ping pong balls and was inspired by Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot.
This is the second year in a row that both siblings have been chosen as finalists in the K'NEXpert Search building contest.
This year, three Grand Prize winners and seven finalists were chosen from three age categories. In addition to Lanie and Kyler, five other finalists will each be awarded $1,000 U. S. Savings Bonds to be put toward their education. The three Grand Prize winners are 6-year-old Alex Liao from Waterloo, ON, Canada, 8-year-old Connor Garmey from Severna Park, MD, and 12-year-old Ian Culhane of Olympia, WA. Each will receive a $10,000 U. S. Savings Bond for college.
“The K’NEXpert contest is the highlight of our year,” said K’NEX President Michael Araten. “K’NEX fans consistently surpass our expectations with their creativity and innovation, building elaborate works of art,” he said.
K’NEX is the world’s most innovative construction toy company. As the winner of more than 200 international awards, K’NEX encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.” The K’NEXpert Search is an annual contest that asks kids to design an ultra-creative, original model made entirely out of K’NEX parts.
About K’NEX Brands
Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K’NEX Education program. For more information, please visit http://www. knex. com.
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