MINNESOTA STUDENT INVENTORS CONGRESS

Original Creations Showcased at
Regional Minnesota Student Inventors Congress

Young inventors from throughout the region gathered at the Madison East Mall in Mankato on April 25 to showcase their original creations before a panel of local judges, educators and community volunteers. These young inventors in grades 3–8 participate in a program called Minnesota Student Inventors Congress, designed for youth to explore the process of invention while nurturing skills in creativity, self confidence and the scientific process.

These students have already shared their work at local fairs in their communities. The regional fair is an event where the top projects are identified and invited to participate in the Minnesota Inventors Congress (MIC) in Redwood Falls on June 12 and 13. MIC is a state gathering where students will share their work in the company of adult inventors and people who work to produce inventions.

More than 40 inventors were interviewed by a panel of ten community judges ranging from business professionals, educators, retirees, college students and former MSIC participants. The following inventors and their projects were selected to represent the South Central Service Cooperative region at the Minnesota Inventors Congress in Redwood Falls:

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial:

• Matthew Schuster & Derek Cloyd — “The Seed Separator”
• Justin Born & Nick Meixell — “Colored Salt”
• Kayla Lee Jobe — “Travel BuddyGunner Gens — “Dog Ball Catapult
• Jasmine Esqueda & Brittany Kelley — “Switch Band”
• Aiden Begnaud & Garret Nelson — “The Hole Heater”

Sibley East Schools:

• Jonah Zachariah Butler & Charles Lee Elwood — “The Defender”
• Austin Brockhoff — “ Flag Trap”
• Haylee Loncorich — “Fish Alert Rod Holder”

Park Elementary in Le Sueur:

• Ben Steuck & Grant Casperson — “See Salt”
• Ethan Reinhardt — “Crumb Catcher”
  

The event also recognizes the following special awards:

• Best Presentation: Lane Maurer — “Egg Carrier” — Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
• Young Einstein Creativity Award: Paige Sittig & Paige Cadriel — “Save The Door Dog Mat” — Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
• Kid’s Choice Award: Austin Kube & Scott Deno — “Slayer Blind” — Sibley East Schools