Local students qualify for Invent Iowa state competition

North Winneshiek inventors Amelia Dugger, Aiden Arneson, and Mairi Sessions display their creations.

Six inventions by students from Dcorah, St. Benedict's and North Winneshiek have been chosen to compete in the Invent Iowa state competition.

Decorah student Ethan Stravers' Pumper 2000 was chosen for the state competition.  St. Benedict School students Mary Moore and Sydney Hageman' Bottle Hankie was chosen, as was Julia Phillips and Alex Kane's Light-up Hat, and Jaden Weis and Hailey Bower's Hands-off Towel.  From North Winneshiek, Mairi Sessions' Non-Gross Compost Bucket and Amelia Dugger's Frio Pal were judged worthy to compete at the state level.

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 local competition is sponsored by the gifted/talented programs at the three participating schools.

Carrie Lee students showing their inventions at the recent regional competition are (front, left to right) Serena Sweet and Morgan Moen; (back, left to right) Rachel Mikkelson, Cole Huebner, Grace Neal, and Ethan Stravers.

St. Benedict students Jaden Weis and Hailey Bower explain how to use their Hands Off Towel at the pool.

Julia Phillips and Alex Kane, St. Benedict third graders, show how to turn on their Light-up Hat for winter night fun.

Sydney Hageman and Mary Moore present their Bottle Hankie invention to the judges at the regional Invent Iowa competition.