Eight students from throughout Massachusetts were honored recently for their ingenuity at the seventh annual Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, powered by The Henry Ford. They were among over 70 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated on June 9 at the awards ceremony hosted by The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation correspondent Albert Lawrence, with astrobiologist and aquanaut Alyssa Carson as keynote. More than 80 awards, including cash prizes, trophies, medals and patent applications were handed out.

Ria M., Tenth Grade, Holliston

Third Place in the Tenth Grade Category for G-Dog “G-Dog will be a revolutionizing invention preventing the shooter from entering the building. The design will stop the shooter by having a building lockdown. Police will be notified immediately, and necessary actions will be taken. It will have two components: one smell sensor and one x-ray machine. She was among over 70 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated at the awards ceremony held on June 9.

“The brilliant young students of our Invention Convention program have the power to change the world,” said Patricia Mooradian, president & CEO of The Henry Ford. “They are the problem-solvers we need today and their determination and dedication is awe-inspiring. We are proud to support and mentor these young inventors and can’t wait to see all that they will accomplish in the future.”

Invention Convention Worldwide is a K-12 invention education program aligned with national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills. The program builds confidence in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship for life. More than 166,000 K-12 inventors from across the country participate in Invention Convention

Worldwide programs each year, with the hopes of advancing to the U.S. national competition.

“The passion, innovative spirit and drive to create a more inclusive, connected and sustainable future is a hallmark of Invention Convention students,” said Randy Bumps, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Raytheon Technologies. “We believe the experience and community students gain through the Invention Convention program today will set them on a path to becoming the world-class engineers and technologists who solve tomorrow’s challenges.”

Students compete at local and regional levels before advancing to the U.S. national competition. To participate, students must submit a video presentation of their invention, a prototype, an inventor’s logbook showing the journey of their invention process and a poster board highlighting key points of the invention process.

A recording of the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2023 awards ceremony can be viewed HERE.

The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring Invention Education to students everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at www.inventionconvention.org/contact.