The 7th annual Westerville Middle School Invention Convention season concluded recently as Westerville’s four Middle Schools each held their building Invention Convention Competitions. Sponsored by the Gifted Education Department with support from the PTO/PSTA, students set up displays and were judged by a panel of distinguished educators, administrators, and community members.
At Blendon, a 6th grade team including Zoey Ward, Stephen Vilardo, and Riley Bannister placed third. Second place was Anna Deichert and Isa Sanchez, also in 6th grade. The two 1st place inventions were from Sydney Laluzerne and Cassie Cotter, an 8th grade team, and 6th grader Devon Ford.
At Heritage, the grand champions were Sam Weaver with his “Mailbox Alert” and Caroline Bowling with her “Swiffer Slides”; both are in grade 6. Second place winners were Dominic Steele (grade 6) and the team of Naomi Brothers and Maggie Fenwick (grade 6).
At Genoa, the grand champions were Matt Drexel, grade 7, with his invention “Ortho-Brush” and the team of Anna Huddle and Wendy Hernandez-Ortega (both grade 8) with their “The Distributer”. Second place winners were 7th graders Jackson Rittman and Evan Radecki, and third place winner was 7th grader Hayden Fulkerson.
At Walnut Springs, coming in third place was a 6th grade team Caeden Chase and Owen DeTemble. Second place was Zeien Chase. Two 1st place inventions were from Madison Morrison and Spielberg Paul, an 8th grade team, and 7th grader Victoria Davis.
The winning inventions at each middle school represented Westerville City Schools at the Regional Invention Convention Competition at Tolles Career and Technical Center on May 7 to compete for prizes and scholarship money. At press time it was learned that some Westerville students had advanced to the national competition. Details will be forthcoming.
During the past 21 years, the Invention Convention (www.inventionconvention.org) has been awarding college scholarships, while teaching children invaluable problem-solving skills, building self-esteem, and rewarding their creativity. Currently the State of Ohio is divided into three regions – Southwest, Northeast and Central.
Past participants have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on Nickelodean’s Figure it Out, on Maury Povich, and on local news programs. More than $700,000 in college scholarships has been given to date.