School District 123 Students Participate in State Invention Convention

At Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123’s Sward Elementary, Ashley Lettiere’s STEM Club participated in the Illinois Student Invention Convention (ISIC).

Students were instructed to identify an everyday problem and go through the process of inventing something to solve the problem. As the students worked with Lettiere from December to March, they completed logbooks, constructed a prototype, and created a pitch video to submit to the ISIC.

Products invented include heated socks by Piper D. and Everly A. and hollow markers by Ava P., Grace L., and Annie B.

During a virtual science fair on April 6, these two groups of students showcased their work and inventions to a group of judges consisting of UIC professors, patenters, teachers, and grad students. The panel of judges then asked them questions about their inventions and processes.

If students are selected to move on within the competition, they will present their inventions at the ISIC showcase in May.

"They did an awesome job, let's send good vibes their way and wish them luck in moving on to the next round. We are so proud of our Sward kids," Sward Principal Suzanne Amra said.