ROSEMOUNT, Minn. -- On Saturday, Jan. 17, approximately 300 student inventions for new or improved gadgets were on display throughout the Dakota Hills Middle School and Eagan High School cafeteria for judging and public viewing. The District 196 Inventors Fair is an annual event designed to involve students in creative problem-solving techniques. Organized and hosted by teachers in the district's Gifted and Talented Program, the fair featured inventions created by fourth- and fifth-grade students from all 18 of the district's elementary schools.
To participate in the fair, students had to create new products or improvements to existing products. Inventions were judged on the following criteria:
- Originality -- the invention is original either in the problem it addresses or the solution;
- Need -- there is a need for the invention;
- Workability -- there is evidence the invention will work;
- Research -- the student investigated what similar inventions exist, and
- Improvement -- the solution offered by the invention is better than previous or existing ones.
Three volunteers judged each invention. Among the more than 125 judges were teachers, principals, parents, businesspeople and district high school students. Thirty-two inventions created by 39 students (listed below by school) were selected "best of show" based on the criteria. These students and all others who participated in the District 196 Inventors Fair can apply to have their invention selected for display among the top 100 student inventions in the metro area at the "What If? Young Inventors Fair," which will be held Saturday, April 4, at Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Best-In-Show Inventions | ||
Student(s) | Invention | School |
Olivia Bork & Elyse Hillyer | Cuff Puffs | Cedar Park Elementary |
Bryce Collison | Max-Sander | Deerwood Elementary |
Michael McCartney & | Super Scooter | Deerwood Elementary |
Alexander Lindstrom | DS to Go | Diamond Path Elementary |
Andrew Erickson | Easy Catch | Echo Park Elementary |
Molly Gunderson | Stick-It-On Velcro Lid | Echo Park Elementary |
Haley Chinander | Babys Butler | Glacier Hills Elementary |
Luke Gnatkowski | Crazy Tangler Eliminator | Glacier Hills Elementary |
Haley Challgren | Magna Brush | Greenleaf Elementary |
Henry Dikeman | Garbage Buddy | Greenleaf Elementary |
Emilia Galchutt | Cozy Sleeper | Greenleaf Elementary |
Nicole McMahon | Morning Magic | Greenleaf Elementary |
Ryan Pevan | Snowboard Trainer | Greenleaf Elementary |
Kaitlin Ameluxen & | Zippery Do Da | Northview Elementary |
Jillian Anderson | The Shieldzaroo Dog Toy | Northview Elementary |
Shannah Howland & | No Spill Doggy Dish | Northview Elementary |
Joseph Schmitz | Safety Baby | Northview Elementary |
Andrew Walker | Pencil Pick-Up | Northview Elementary |
Tyra Karel | Green Earth Baggie Dryer | Pinewood Elementary |
Sara OHalloran | The Toothinator | Pinewood Elementary |
Christian Romero & | The Super Dispenser | Pinewood Elementary |
Sanjana Sharma | Stop Sign Traffic Alert | Pinewood Elementary |
Benjamin Czaja | The Hydrator Ball | Red Pine Elementary |
Ryan Pagois & Noah Quist | The E-Z Wii-Z Organizer | Red Pine Elementary |
Mariah Savage | The Write Cup | Red Pine Elementary |
Joan Yambing | Shoe Leveler | Rosemount Elementary |
David Mo & | Smart Mark | Rosemount Elementary |
Kyle Lundberg | The Finger Saver | Southview Elementary |
Emily Holmberg | Handy Auto Light | Thomas Lake Elementary |
Zane Douglas | Gutter Ball Retriever | Woodland Elementary |
Evan Vander Hoeven | Musicians Dream | Woodland Elementary |
Steven Wagner | Trash Can Carrier | Woodland Elementary |