Montague School awarded first place at the
Edison Invention Challenge
Posted: May. 22, 2017 12:01 am
Nathan Jenks, a fifth grader at the Montague School, was awarded first place in the Edison Invention
Challenge through his LEAP class for gifted and talented students. As a first­ place winner, Nathan won
a 3D printer for the Montague School.
The theme of the challenge was to invent a product that would be used for is assisted living. It had to
use green energy parts from an energy kit supplied by the contest.
Nathan's project: Solar Key Light took first place in the elementary/middle school division. He created a
solar­powered key light that mounts on a door to allow people to find their keys and unlock the door. All
parts were completed in the Montague LEAP class and after­school with the exception of some editing
and door handle mount done at home.
As part of his project, Nathan researched and made a video of inventor Thomas Edison, his life, and his
work. He documented the design process using an inventor's notebook. He built a working prototype
and then made a video presenting and marketing his invention.
Nathan stated that he was especially inspired by Edison when he learned of the extensive journal writing
that Edison did as he recorded his experiments, ideas and plans. Nathan got to see those 2,500 journals
firsthand at the Edison Lab.
Invention projects from 91 competing schools from 16 states and three countries were involved.
Nathan was recognized at an awards dinner held at the National Historic Site – Edison Labs in West
Orange, which he attended with his parents and his LEAP teacher, Karen Goyette.
The challenge has been sponsored by the Edison Innovation Foundation and Pico Turbine for seven
years.