IOWA CITY, IOWA (March 26, 2019) — Student finalists in kindergarten through eighth grade from throughout the state will compete at the Iowa Invention Convention on Monday, April 15, 2019. The event is being held at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The students, totaling about 140, have advanced to the state level. Since 1999, the Invent Iowa program has been part of the University's Belin-Blank Center. Winners of the state finals advance to the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE) held at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation later this year.
"Iowa is full of talented and bright young learners, and this celebration of invention gives students the opportunity to share what they have created," said Ashlee Van Fleet, coordinator of the Iowa Invention Convention. "This competition gets students involved in authentic, project-based learning while demonstrating creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking — all important 21st Century Skills.”
"The student inventions range from environmental-iniatives to ways of helping others and making your life easier," added Van Fleet. For example, two 8th graders from Keokuk, Reese Hoffman and Will Jones, invented the Recycling Vending Machine. Also 8th graders, Dylan Hunt, Thomas Nugent, and Rebecca Yanacheak from the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District outside of Des Moines invented the Eazy Shuck.
The invention displays are open to the public and media at the University's Iowa Memorial Union, located at 125 North Madison Street, 3-4 PM. The award ceremony will follow.
The Iowa Invention Convention is hosted and sponsored by The Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Iowa.
More information about the Iowa Invention Convention is available HERE.
About Invent Iowa:
As one of the state’s original Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs, Invent Iowa is a comprehensive, statewide program developed to support educators in promoting the invention process. Since 1999, the Invent Iowa program has been a part of the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Iowa.
