Category Archives: Awards

USF Crowns Top Young Inventors

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2013 Young Innovator Champion Mica Jadick (center) poses with competition director Anton Hopen and competition founder Anna Hopen (right)Ten finalists from nearly 600 entries pitched their new inventions to a panel of judges but only one would be named USF’s top innovator.  This year the honor went to Mica Jadick for her cereal sifting device that filtered out the crumbs that make the last bowl of cereal unpalatable.   Second place went to George Seits for his French-fry condiment holder.  Third place went to Katie Warren for her Boo Boo Baboon which is a plush toy that holds a cold-pack around a child’s arm or leg to help with an injury.  The judges further awarded a special recognition to Jonathan Ullom for his device to safely clear clogs of grass from lawn mowers.

Principals, Teachers, Parents…..want to keep in touch with the competition?  Have friends, colleagues or family that may want to participate next year?  Please forward them this link to stay updated on the 6th Annual Competition for 2014.

IMG_0827Keely Karnes took home the Outback Top Trademark Award for HEAR-RINGS™ which is her brand for audio ear buds that integrate with earring jewelry.   MOSI’s president Wit Ostrenko awarded all finalists annual family memberships to Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry.

IMG_08342011 USF Young Innovator champion Marissa Streng received her utility patent award from USF President Genshaft.  Marissa has commercialized her dog drying invention which is currently for sale under the federally trademarked brand, Puff-N-Fluff. 

The ten finalists were:

  1. Cooper Tharrington Sound Asleep Clock
  2. George Seits Built-In French-Fry Condiment Holder SECOND PLACE
  3. Grace Larson Portable Hitching Post for Dogs
  4. Jonathan Ullom Mower Chute Clearer  SPECIAL RECOGNITION
  5. Katie Warren Boo Boo Baboon  THIRD PLACE
  6. Keeley Karnes Hear-rings
  7. Mica Jadick Cereal Container that Removes Crumbs  FIRST PLACE
  8. Nicholas Boyd Safe Teen Driver System
  9. Prerna Ravinder The Back Benefactor
  10. Stamatina Liristis Scratch O Matic

10 Young Inventors Compete this Monday at USF

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Tpatel-centerhe University of South Florida will host the finals of the Young Innovator Competition Monday, Feb. 11, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Patel Center for Global Solutions on USF’s Tampa campus. An expo featuring the inventions begins at 5 p.m., with judging and awards following between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.  The public is invited to attend.

mosi_imagesAs is tradition, the competition is being held on Thomas Alva Edison’s birthday and in celebration of the spirit of invention and ingenuity. Nearly 600 entries were received from students in the Tampa Bay Region for the competition. 

Every entry receives a day pass to T20120210_USF_Young_Innovators_Competition_0104ampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the 10 finalists receive annual family passes.  Outback Steakhouse will award the Top Trademark Award for the most creative invention branding.

On Monday, the top 10 competitors present their invention for an opportunity to win prizes. The National Academy of Inventors, USF Chapter selected the following students as finalists, judging of the inventions will be based on creativity and originality; quality and persuasiveness of entrant’s presentation; benefit to people and the invention’s marketability. In order of Monday night’s presentation, the finalists are:

  1. Cooper Tharrington Sound Asleep Clock
  2. George Seits Built-In French-Fry Condiment Holder
  3. Grace Larson Portable Hitching Post for Dogs
  4. Jonathan Ullom Lawn Mower Side Discharge Chute Clearer
  5. Katie Warren Boo Boo Baboon
  6. Keeley Karnes Hear-rings
  7. Mica Jadick Cereal Container that Removes Crumbs
  8. Nicholas Boyd Safe Teen Driver System
  9. Prerna Ravinder The Back Benefactor
  10. Stamatina Liristis Scratch O Matic

The USF Young Innovator Competition promotes innovation and creativity in young people by motivating them to solve problems and improve upon the things around them. 

Top 10 finalist selected

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The National Academy of Inventors, USF Chapter selected the following students to present their inventions at the Fifth Annual Young Innovator Competition on Monday, February 11, 2013:

Finalist Invention School County Grade Teacher
Cooper Tharrington Sound Asleep Clocks Walden Lake Elem Hillsborough 4 Sandra Van Oosten
George Seits Built-In French-Fry Condiment Holder Middleton High Hillsborough 10  
Grace Larson Portable Hitching Post for Dogs Safety Harbor Elem Pinellas 4 Ms. Howard
Jonathan Ullom Lawn Mower Side Discharge Chute Clearer Home-Schooled Polk 11  
Katie Warren Boo Boo Baboon St. Pauls School Pinellas 3 Joanie Falk
Keeley Karnes Hear-rings St. Pauls School Pinellas 3 Joanie Falk
Mica Jadick Cereal Container that Removes Crumbs Martinez Middle Hillsborough 7 Shane Ama
Nicholas Boyd Safe Teen Driver System Oak Grove Middle Pinellas 8 Terrie Soltau
Prerna Ravinder The Back Benefactor McKeel Academy Polk 5 Lisa Bridges
Stamatina Liristis Scratch O Matic St. Pauls School Pinellas 3 Joanie Falk

Top 50 invention entries selected

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IMG_0691The following entries will proceed for judging by the National Academy of Inventors (USF Chapter) tomorrow (Wed. Jan. 30, 2013) at noon.  From these 50, the top ten finalists will be selected.  The remaining 40 will receive special Honorable Mention Medals of Science and Innovation (photo right). 

Nearly 600 invention entries were judged by a panel of 9 experienced technologists.  Including Anton Hopen, Ron Smith, Steve Rogai, Guy Hagen, Woody Pollack, Robert Varkonyi, Michele Lawson, Nilay Choksi and Andriy Lytvyn.

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Inventor Invention School Grade Teacher
Nicolas DeMalteris Trash Can under Car Seat Martinez Middle   Mrs. Griffin
Lucas McLaughlin Magic Laces Canterbury 3 Holly Wintrip/Kim Tomko
Sylvia Beach Self-Fastening Fabric Patch Highland Lakes Elem 2 Cathleen Ell
Jonathan Ullom Lawn Mower Side Discharge Chute Clearer Home-Schooled 11 Home-Schooled
Colby Tomasello Stretchy Shoes Countryside Montessori 6 Bridgett Nicholson
Cole Thomas Cleaning Device St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
Alexis Warner The Toothpaste Saver St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
Katie Warren Boo Boo Baboon St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
J. Maxwell Rich No Spill Milk Jug for Kids St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
Stamatina Liristis Scratch O Matic St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
Keeley Karnes Hear-rings St. Pauls School 3 Joanie Falk
Peyton Strawn Cool’n’ Tool Box Walden Lake Elem 3 Sandra Van Oosten
Zach Hall Cartngo Walden Lake Elem 3 Sandra Van Oosten
Kristen Ryan Game Timer Walden Lake Elem 4 Sandra Van Oosten
Ashley Dunn The Water Cooler Walden Lake Elem 4 Sandra Van Oosten
Ben Paquet Soap-Cloth Walden Lake Elem 4 Sandra Van Oosten
Cooper Harrington Sound Asleep Clocks Walden Lake Elem 4 Sandra Van Oosten
Javin Kubarek Ear Armour-Ear Protector Highland Lakes Elem 4 Cathleen Ell
George Seits Built-In French-Fry Condiment Holder Middleton High 10  
Mica Jadick Cereal Container that Removes Crumbs Martinez Middle 7 Shane Ama
Kassidy Jones Text Off McKeel Academy 4 Charla Stephenson
Jennifer Solomon Umbrella Plant McKeel Academy 3 Ashley Long
Samuel Hash Sunglasses with Built in screwdrivers McKeel Academy 4 Donna Rees
Stephen Llopiz Kiddie Safe Food Tray McKeel Academy 4 Donna Rees
Jamie Wheatcraft The Sandyhook Alert System McKeel Academy 4 Katie Powell
Prerna Ravinder The Back Benefactor McKeel Academy 5 Lisa Bridges
Andrew Morales The Mailbox Cage McKeel Academy 5 Heather McKnight
Sara Trinci Beach Raft Anchor Electa Lee Magnet 7 Rebekka Stasny
Preston Plath The Remote Finder Electa Lee Magnet 7 Rebekka Stasny
Liam Holton Hairbrush for different hair South McKeel Academy 4 Amber Schumaker
Evan Thompson Little dog away from big dogs food South McKeel Academy 4 Amber Schumaker
Sidney Rhoton Scroll Upz Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Elizabeth Lauer Coffee & Green Tea Hair Dye Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Elizbeth Paredes Vanity Touch Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Jordyn Avers Flow Reader Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Karisa Mehl The Hat Pal Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Jazmin Collins Musical Laces Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Nicholas Boyd Safe Teen Driver System Oak Grove Middle 8 Terrie Soltau
Matthew Ahrens-Luchynsky Video Game Shopping Cart Wellspring Enrichment 1 Angela Hartle
Mikal Willeke Air Powered Mattress Corner Lifter Wellspring Enrichment 5 Angela Hartle
Grace Larson Portable Hitching Post for Dogs Safety Harbor Elem 4 Ms. Howard
Arlette Martinez Crasher stopper McKeel Academy 4 Charla Stephenson
Morgan Brazier MusiPack Anderson Elementary 5 Stephanie Branson
Bud Medvid Quick Tape Cut Dispenser Oak Grove Middle 8 M. Daniels
Annabelle Anderson Hot Lunch St. Pauls School 4 Joanie Falk
Elizabeth Adair Automatic Pausing Headphones Home-Schooled 8 Home-Schooled
Zach Duart Wheel-chair wheel cover all-terrain adapter Keswick Christian 3 Eleanor Baumner
Anna Williams X-Faucet Gloves Keswick Christian 3 Eleanor Baumner
Cody Norris Auto-Ladder Keswick Christian 3 Eleanor Baumner
Gabriel Sonnenschein Multiport Auto-Timing Charging Station Keswick Christian 3 Eleanor Baumner

Young Inventors: Only Two Weeks to Go!

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2012-USF-YIC-Finals-4563Time to get those ideas onto paper!  Only two weeks left before the January 25, 2013 deadline to get your invention submitted.  You can send your invention submission in a number of ways:

  1. Mail: USF Young Innovator Competition, 180 Pine Avenue North, Oldsmar, Florida 34677
  2. Email: info@innovationexpress.org (attached your scanned application form).
  3. Fax: 813-925-8525

TIMELINE:

  • Top 50 entries selected January 29, 2013.
  • Preliminary judging by the National Academy of Inventors on January 30, 2013.
  • Finalist presentations  6:00 PM, Monday, February 11, 2013 at the University of South Florida Patel Center.

Open to students K-12 in:

  • Hillsborough County
  • Pinellas County
  • Pasco County
  • Hernando County
  • Citrus County
  • Manatee County
  • Sarasota County
  • Polk County

Happy Holidays from the Young Innovator Competition

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christmas-girl-signFrom all of us at the USF Young Innovator Competition – Happy Holidays!  We hope you are inspired over the holiday season to apply your intellect and creativity in solving everyday problems around you.  Nothing is more satisfying that inventing something that others enjoy using.

Remember that every young inventors receives a day pass to MOSI and a chance to win thousands of dollars for themselves and  their own school.

Finally, save the date….Monday, February 11, 2013 at 6 pm at the University of South Florida Patel Center.  The finalist competition is a wonderful celebration of innovation with food, music, videos, invention displays and live presentations before a panel of expert judges.  Grand prize winners will be selected that night.

Please thank our sponsors that made this possible.

HSN Television Host Bill Green Introduces the 2013 Competition

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Veteran HSN television host and returning finalist judge Bill Green introduces the 2013 Young Innovator Competition.

2013 Awards and Prizes

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Image: USF Vice President Karen Holbrook and 2012 Grand Prize Winner Katie Burcaw

Katie Burcaw receives $1,000 from USF Vice President Karen Holbrook on February 10, 2012 at the USF Young Innovator Competition Finals.

For the Schools

  • Grand Prize: $1,000
  • First Runner Up: $500
  • Second Runner Up: $250

For the Students: Grand Prize Invention Winners

  • Grand Prize: $1,000
  • First Runner Up: $500
  • Second Runner Up: $250

Grand Prize Trademark Winner

  • Outback Top Trademark Award
  • $100 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Top 10 Finalists

  • MOSI Annual Pass
  • Medal of Science & Technology

All Participants: Day Pass to MOSI