Twenty-nine innovation students from Marshall Public Schools (MPS) participated in the Kansas City Invention Convention on Thursday, April 16. The event, held at the UMKC Swinney Recreation Center, featured 318 young innovators presenting unique inventions.

Students earning awards were invited to the Linda Hall Library the following Monday evening for the awards ceremony. During the ceremony, seventh-grade students Haiden DeVorss, Jacob Dominique, and Jep Knott earned first place in their division for their invention, DDK Storage Implements, advancing to Invention Convention Nationals. They will join student innovators from across the United States at Nationals, held June 3-5 to compete at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Also receiving awards in the fifth and sixth-grade division were Brinley Enyart earning the 2nd place award for her invention Smear Saver. Receiving honorable mentions from the fifth and sixth grade division were Tinley Thomas and Fiona Noamesi with Paws of Courage Board Game, and Enzo Cubero and Lauren Thompson with the Lid Buddy. All award winners were presented with trophies and monetary awards during the ceremony.

The Kansas City Invention Convention is a competition for students in grades 3 through 12, providing participants the opportunity to develop and showcase original inventions. The complete list of MPS students who took part in the competition is included below:

In the fourth-grade division, MPS was represented by Laikyn Marshall and Valerie Summers with BETTERBONEZ; Paxton McCellen with Tubi’s Dog Tubb; and Lila Grace Jacobi and Reese Thompson with Sock of ‘Spand.

Competing in the fifth- and sixth-grade division were Alexis Casillas, Willow Butterfield, Finley Fuchs, and Ava Shannon with Clip n Slip; Briley Geritz, Bellamy Petet, Julianna Breshears, and Vince Jacobi with the Life Organizer; Brinley Enyart with Smear Saver; Calvin Linsenbardt with the Bike Pod; Vanessa Magana-Mazariego with TyShoo Shoelace Helper; Enzo Cubero and Lauren Thompson with the Lid Buddy; and Tinley Thomas and Fiona Noamesi with the Paws of Courage Board Game.

In the seventh- and eighth-grade division, participants included Haiden DeVorss, Jacob Dominique, and Jep Knott with DDK Storage Implements, and Kenna Callanan, Ellie List, and Javi Medina with the A+ List.

The high school division was represented by Lilianna Beatty, Lucas Thompson Makoski, and Brecken Jones with FTC Fenders.