DEARBORN, Mich. — Four Georgia students were recently honored at the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, according to a news release from the convention.
They were among over 78 award-winning K-12 inventors who were celebrated at the ceremony on June 7. The convention presented students with over 80 awards, including cash prizes, trophies, medals and patent applications.
According to a press release, the four honorees were in two pairs: Fourth graders Anna and Nellie from Hiram and 11th graders Nathan and William from Kennesaw.
Anna and Nellie received the Inclusion Award for Grocery Eyes, an app "to help people who are blind become more independent when shopping in the grocery store."
They were inspired by an activity in their gifted class where they had to go through an obstacle course blindfolded, a news release said.
Nathan and William received first place in their class and the Best Live Presentation Award for their product, The Corder, an instrument to help keep students engaged.
"The current instruments used in schools are over-simplified and cannot be used to play music that kids engage with," the pair said in the release. "It is unrealistic to assume that if you put a glockenspiel or recorder in front of an elementary schooler, they will be hooked on music. In fact, this current culture causes many students to be turned off from music as a whole from a very early age. We want to change this reality. "
National Invention Convention Georgia honorees
Students compete at local and regional levels before advacing to the national competition. Organizers said students must present a video of their invention, a prototype, an inventor’s logbook showing the journey of their process and a poster board highlighting key points.
Invention Convention works to "develop tomorrow’s innovative problem-solvers through a culturally responsive learning approach that ignites creativity, curiosity and collaboration." Their goal is to encourage students to use their voice, regardless of age, gender, race, education or ability, according to organizers.
