Student inventors tackle everyday problems

North Winneshiek fourth grade inventors include (left to right) Josie Ryan, Ethan Frana, Jack Arneson, Steven Sexton, Maria Hendrickson, and Tyler Bullerman.

Can't get those veggie plastic bags open at your local supermarket?  Neither could Robyn Dayton, so she invented Paper Pliers.

How about splatters when using your mixer?  Try Abby Moen's Stop-a-Splatter. It works with any size bowl.

These were just two of 29 inventions shown at the recent regional "Invent Iowa" competition featuring third and fourth grade students of Carrie Lee, St. Benedict's and North Winneshiek schools.

Five inventions were chosen to compete in the first round of the statewide competition, including Dayton's and Moen's. The others were Dylan Muhlbauer's Parka Pouch, a large removable compartment that snaps inside a coat; Maria Hendrickson's Ho-o-ld Your Horses, adaptable reins for disabled horseback riders; and Gavin Thorson's BG Scooper, a shovel with a backward-facing head that allows the user to efficiently scoop ashes out of a wood burner.       
          
Invent Iowa is sponsored by The Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa.  Following two rounds of evaluation in the state competition, finalists compete for Honorable Mention Awards and State Merit Awards, including scholarships to the Colleges of Engineering at Iowa and Iowa State universities.
          
The regional competition is sponsored by Decorah's ELP program, North Winneshiek's Challenge program, and St. Benedict's Gifted/Talented program.

Third-fourth grade inventors from Carrie Lee School include front row, Noah Lovelace, Abby Moen, Sofie Grouws, Mason O'Hara, James Groux; back row, Caleb Huebner, Robyn Dayton, Larsson Shockey, Cole Huebner, Allison Noller.(Click on photo for larger photo)

St. Benedict's third grade inventors include front row: Dylan Muhlbauer, Conner Ludeking, Raymond Lovell; second row: John Hammel, Sage Wedmann, Mara Pankow, Emily Carolan; third row: Gavin Thorson, Elizabeth Clement, Ryan Johanningmeier, Nicolas Vergara, Noah Plumb, Murray Helzer; not in photo: April Kruse (Click on photo for larger image)