Local kids place at Invention Convention nationals

North Idaho's top young inventors earned a place on the national stage at the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, held June 5-7 at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Mich.

Hayden Meadows Elementary fifth grader Wilhelmina Kim won the Industry Award in Household Organization and Appliances for her invention, "The No Spotty Potty," an antibacterial/antimicrobial toilet seat made out of diatomite stone that hygienically absorbs urine droplets left behind by previous users, leaving the toilet clean and dry.

Bryan Elementary fifth grader Nora Owen won the second-place fifth grade award for her invention of "The Perfect Fit: Safety Seat System." Her invention is described as a system to keep kids safe while riding in cars. "The adult will enter the height and weight of the child, and the seat will incrementally adjust up or down to the perfect safety position. The seat and seat belt location will always be in the safest position regardless of how big or small the child is," her invention description reads.

Lakeland Middle School eighth grader Elizabeth McCormick won best logbook for her invention "Drink-A-Drop," a micro-application of a continuous non-invasive blood dehydration monitor applied with an adhesive bandage made from potato peels. 

Idaho's young inventors made up 16 of approximately 450 kids who participated at nationals this year, out of the over 180,000 kids who competed in local and regional invention programs across the U.S. The Invention Convention teaches kindergarten-through-12th-grade students problem identification, entrepreneurship, creativity and problem-solving skills while building confidence in invention and innovation. 

Rachel Schwam, North Idaho regional coordinator for Invent Idaho, said she is proud that three students from North Idaho placed at the National Invention Convention out of the 437 student projects that were entered.

"Nora, Wilhelmina and Elizabeth are wonderful examples of the hard work, dedication and leadership that will carry us forward into the future," Schwam said. "Their creativity and ingenuity has brought them this far and I know they along with all of the other Idaho student inventors will do great. Idaho has some amazing home-grown kiddos who think out of the box to come up with solutions to problems and new inventions that can one day make our lives a little easier."

The future is bright, she said. She extended a congratulations to all of Idaho's student inventors who competed at the school district, regional state and national level.

 "Your hard work has paid off," she said.

These student inventors have been invited to display their projects locally at the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Hayden, alongside other great inventors who have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Schwam said.

    Bryan Elementary School fifth grader Nora Owen won second place for her "Perfect Fit: Safety Seat System" invention at the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals. She is seen here at an Invent Idaho event earlier this year.

    Lakeland eighth grader Elizabeth McCormick won best logbook for her "Drink-A-Drop" invention at the 2024 Invention Convention U.S. Nationals held June 5-7 in Dearborn, Mich. She is seen here during the Invent Idaho North Idaho Regional competition awards ceremony in January.