Local Students Shine at National Invention Convention

A team from Living Science Home School Study Center, a STEM-based hybrid school, took 2nd place in the high school division of the National Invention Convention in Washington, D.C. last week. Sophomore homeschooled students Claire Crose of Cherokee County and Everett Apple of Cobb County showcased their WedgeTech device, which secures stacks of folding chairs to prevent them from falling.

The inaugural National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE), held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, was organized by STEMIE (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math linked to Invention and Entrepreneurship). STEMIE is a national educational coalition with a goal of bringing invention and entrepreneurship training to K-12 students nationwide. More than 260 student entries from 15 states competed. All had won state-level competitions. Team WedgeTech qualified with their 2nd place finish and Top Manufacturing Award at the Georgia Tech K-12 InVenture Challenge in March.

Apple and Crose used their InVenture Challenge feedback and the time between the two competitions to improve their product pitch and to move forward in the patenting process, filing both utility and design applications to obtain “patent pending” status before the national competition. A panel of judges interviewed each inventor or team. More than 120 judges from intellectual property-focused law firms, U.S. Government departments, corporations, teachers, and others from the D.C. area and from as far away as California, judged the competition.

The competition was the culmination of a year’s work in Living Science’s High School Engineering Essentials class, taught by Michelle Crose, a third-generation Purdue engineer. Students had to find a real-world problem to solve. The often-unstable stacks of chairs in Living Science’s multi-use classrooms inspired Apple and Crose to seek a simple, inexpensive solution. The WedgeTech devices, small plastic horseshoe-shaped wedges, fit around and under the legs of the front chair of a stack, securing it via friction. The students developed several prototypes, seeking user input as they tested and refined the product. They recorded the process in a detailed log, which they presented along with their invention.

“Participating in this competition was a highlight of the school year,” Crose said. “I’ve learned so much and I’m eager to continue the process. We are seeking investors to move into the manufacturing stage. We plan to market WedgeTech to schools, community centers, and churches.”

Apple added thanks for the help and support the project received from Living Science and the community:

“We were honored to represent Living Science, the Georgia Tech InVenture team, and everyone who helped us along the way. This project was not easy, yet we were not alone. Many people invested many hours helping us throughout the entire process.”

The State of Georgia was well represented at the national competition: Nickajack Elementary’s team won first place in the 5th grade competition, and Walton’s team came third in the high school division.

Living Science is a STEM-oriented home school study center in Woodstock, Georgia, offering a comprehensive creation-based education for students that helps them discover God’s divine design in the world, while transforming families and the community.