In May 2010, Kaylee Morris' father, Robb, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. In an effort to help Robb and others fight the disease, his fifth-grade daughter walked the "No More Excuses No More Lung Cancer" 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk race on Nov. 6 in Alpharetta. Kaylee raised her fundraising goal of $10,000 plus some.

The race benefited the Lung Cancer Alliance, the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to providing patient support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for the disease.

Out of 500 people registered for the race, Kaylee was the second overall fundraiser. As of Nov. 3, $700,000 was raised for the Lung Cancer Alliance.

Kerry Morris, Kaylee's mother, is the wife of Robb Morris.


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Kell High School's Robotics Team was recently awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant in the amount of $10,000 to create ORCA, an Oil Recovery & CApture robot. Kell High School is one of 14 high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year.

InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers and mentors that receive grants, of up to $10,000, to invent technological solutions to real-world problems.

Ed Barker, mentor, and David Burch, Kell High School teacher, initiated the InvenTeam application process last spring and attended training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June to help prepare the final proposal.

A prestigious panel of judges composed of educators and researchers from MIT and Harvard University, industry representatives, MIT staff and alumni and former Lemelson-MIT Award winners assembled this fall and selected the Kell High School Robotics Team to receive one of this year's InvenTeam grants.

Two 2010 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams were selected to present their award-winning work at the White House. The timing of this prestigious honor coincides with the Lemelson-MIT Program's announcement of the 2011 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams, which includes the Kell Robotics Team.

Visit www.whitehouse.gov /blog/2010/10/18/robots-solar-cars-and-rockets-white-house-science-fair for more information.

Sally Litchfield is a longtime Marietta resident. She formerly practiced law in Marietta and now stays home to raise her two children. Send Sally news at sallylit@ bellsouth.net. Call Sally at (770) 425-7122.