Three Marshall Public Schools students had a busy summer, taking part in two major national and international competitions.

The trio, comprised of Lia Cubero, Josephine Reinke, and Raegan Thompson, kicked off their summer by earning “Best in Show” at the Kansas City Invention Convention with their original invention, the Honey Helper-a tool designed to support sustainable beekeeping and promote pollinator health. Their top award at the local level earned them an invitation to compete at the Invention Convention US Nationals, held in early June at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. Selected as one of just 200 student inventions nationwide, the Honey Helper was showcased alongside the museum’s historic exhibits. The trio also interviewed with the Shark Tank casting crew as part of the experience.

Later in the month, the team shifted gears to the world of robotics. In the last week of June, the trio traveled to Florida to participate in the Florida Sunshine Invitational (FSI) FIRST International Robotics Competition. FSI hosted 96 teams from 44 states and 23 countries. At this international event, the three were honored with the Motivate Award, recognizing their energy, team spirit, and ability to inspire others through outreach promoting robotics and STEM.