For Immediate Release
May 16, 2016
Contact: Michele Mooney, 614-620-1507
$11,000 in Scholarships awarded at Invention Convention
Central Ohio Regional Finals
Columbus, Ohio—Aspiring inventors in grades K-8 brought their solutions to everyday problems to the 2016
Invention Convention on Saturday, May 7 at Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City. Scholarships
totaling $11,000 were awarded to young inventors for their creations.
The grand prize award, the Edison scholarship for $2,500, was presented to Claire Rhoads a 2nd grader at St.
Brendan in Dublin for her invention, “Toiletizer”, an automatic hand sanitizer connected to a toilet’s flush
handle. The Kid’s Choice award was given to Madison Estep and Allison Remick, 6th graders at Hayes
Intermediate in Grove City, for “Convert-A-Stairs”, which provides a portable ramp to cover uneven steps to
prevent injuries and falls.
First Place Winners of a $500 college scholarship were:









Kindergarten, Andrew Fenton, Johnny Lakes Elementary, Galena, for “The Water Bag”, which keeps
book pages dry when reading in a bath, shower or pool.
Grade 1, Hayden Laycock, Cornerstone Academy, Westerville, for “Hayden’s Holter Holder”, a special
shirt that holds the sensors of a holter monitor (a small, wearable device that keeps track of heart
rhythm) in place so stickers won't be necessary and uses shorter wires and velcro to hold the rest of
the holter monitor in place.
Grade 2, Ava Palka, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Grove City, for “Ava’s Heated Coat”, which warms the
hands of the coat wearer;
Grade 3, Leah Thobe, Heritage Elementary, Lewis Center, for “The Jumper’s Helper”, an invention that
enables two people to jump rope, one to spin the rope, one to jump, instead of three.
Grade 4, Meredith Johnson, Alcott Elementary, Westerville, for “Chore Charms”, a wearable reminder
of which chores need done.
Grade 5, Grace Cornett, Liberty Union, Baltimore, for “HoverCart” which provides storage to Hover
Board riders.
Grade 6, Mithra Kancheti, Karrer Middle School, Dublin, for “ElectrOxy Mask”, which provides
breathable air that gets channeled into a respirator.
Grade 7, Kara Cannon, Waggoner Jr. High, Reynoldsburg, for “Glove Journal”, that provides a ready-touse writing surface.
Grade 8, Anna Huddel and Wendy Ortega, Genoa Middle School, Westerville, for “Brush It Out”, which
evenly distributes hair conditioner.
-more-
Second place awards were given in each grade as well as ten Superior Awards and three Ohio Soybean Council
Foundation's specialty awards, "Beyond the Bean for Excellence in Agricultural and Environmental Innovation”
worth $250, $500 and $1,000.
All award winners in grades 4 and above are invited to compete in the National Invention Convention and
Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE) in Washington, D.C. for the opportunity to earn additional continuingeducation scholarships. Fifty Invention Convention award winners from Ohio will participate in this year’s
National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo, May 19-21.
The Alumni Ambassador Award was given to Coulter Jacks, Groveport Madison who wil be attending Wright
State University in the fall. The Teacher of Excellence Award was presented to Elizabeth Coholich,
Southwestern City School District, Hayes Intermediate School.
A complete list of winners from the Central Ohio Regional Finals can be found at www.inventionconvention.org.
About Invention Convention
The mission of Invention Convention is to inspire curiosity, confidence, invention and creative problem solving
in our youth. Our goals are to enhance student performance in Ohio’s Core Curriculum Standards including
math, science and language arts through administration of The Invention Convention program and to increase
the interest of Ohio’s students in science, technology, art, engineering and math (STEAM) careers. Invention
Convention is a program of the Ohio Academy of Science.
###
2