University of Iowa News Release

June 1, 2007

Belin-Blank Center Names Meritorious Inventors; Harkin Honored In 20th Year

The University of Iowa's Connie Belin and Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development has announced the names of the meritorious inventors for their entries at the 2007 Invent Iowa State Convention, held on the campus of Iowa State University on April 21.

In addition to receiving a certificate of achievement, each of the 71 meritorious inventors will receive a $50 U.S. Savings Bond. Additionally, six student inventors were selected for their exceptional efforts and were awarded $500 scholarships to use toward tuition at the Colleges of Engineering at either the UI or ISU.

The road to the state convention begins in classrooms throughout the state, where teachers are encouraged to incorporate the Invent Iowa curriculum into the class's learning. The students are then challenged to create an invention of their own that is designed to solve a specific problem or improve the quality of people's lives.

Approximately 30,000 students annually participate in school-level or local Invent Iowa competitions, from which selected student inventors are invited to participate in one of several regional competitions sponsored by the state's 15 Area Educational Agencies.

The culminating event is the state convention, which is sponsored by the UI and ISU Colleges of Engineering and held on each school's campus on alternating years. This year, 357 students representing 135 towns and 146 schools, were invited to participate in the state convention, which was held in ISU's Hilton Coliseum.

This year's convention was the 20th annual event for the Invent Iowa program and was dedicated in honor of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who has been a staunch supporter of Invent Iowa since its inception in 1987.

Harkin shared his enthusiasm for the statewide program in the April 17 issue of the Congressional Record, in which he said, "Invent Iowa is a great program, and I am very proud to recognize all of the people and organizations that continue to carry on Iowa's tradition for innovation and invention." He also noted "the most important partners in the success of Invent Iowa have been classroom teachers across Iowa."

Over the past two decades, approximately a half million students have participated in Invent Iowa.

"The ingenuity of these students never ceases to amaze me," said Invent Iowa State Coordinator Clar Baldus. "The enthusiasm of these young inventors is always so inspiring whether they are creating a new invention to solve a problem for a younger sibling, a grandparent, a disabled friend, or for themselves."

EDITORS: Receipt of this hometown news release indicates that someone from your coverage area was recognized as a state meritorious inventor. Students are listed alphabetically below by city, first name, last name, invention, grade, school and school city. If students received additional awards, that information will follow the name of their inventions.

IOWA

Ackworth: Bailey Ryan Young, EZ Reach Lubricator, Indianola Middle School, Indianola. Young is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Colleges of Engineering.

Anamosa: Rose Carson, The Tied Shoestring, Strawberry Hill Elementary, Anamosa

Ankeny: Amanda Schwab, Schwab Guard, Central Elementary, Alleman

Blue Grass: Lindsay O'Keefe, Mobile Coat, Williams Intermediate, Davenport

Blue Grass: Savanna Bramstedt, Putter Outer, Walcott School, Walcott

Buffalo Center: Jack Ralls The Finger Light,     North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center

Cedar Rapids: Kaitlynn McShane Book-up, Erskine Elementary, Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids: Michael Abramson, Fresh-o-Matic, Jackson Elementary, Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids: Shelbi Benion, Fresh-o-Matic, Jackson Elementary, Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids: Christine Dimke, Locker Buddy, Franklin Middle, Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids: Rachael Nading, Locker Buddy, Franklin Middle Cedar Rapids
    
Cedar Rapids: Mary Korch, Super Tie, Coolidge Elementary, Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids: Megan England, Tiny Tot Trotter, Bowman Woods Cedar Rapids

Clinton: Erin Dunn, Mailbox Alert, Camanche Elementary, Camanche

Colo: Taylor Dulaney, Any 1's Anything Organizer, Colo Nesco Middle School, Zearing

Columbus Junction: Natalina Sents, Lead'n Leash, Columbus Community Schools, Columbus Junction. Sents is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University colleges of engineering.

Council Bluffs: Kaylee Willadsen, Bless You Bear, Bloomer Elementary, Council Bluffs

Dakota City: Kenny Kuyper, Soccer Watcher Sanctuary, Taft Elementary, Humboldt

Dakota City: Kessa Kuyper, Soccer Watcher Sanctuary, Taft Elementary, Humboldt

Davenport: Reid Behrens, All Sports Eye Shield, Paul Norton Elementary Bettendorf

Davenport: Elizabeth (Ellie) Moler, Thermo-Stak, Adams Elementary, Davenport

Davenport: Elizabeth Wallick, Walker Tray, Paul Norton, Bettendorf. Wallick is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Colleges of Engineering.

Decorah: Anja Arend, Doggie in the Spotlight, Decorah Middle, Decorah

Decorah: Annalise Johnson, Doggie in the Spotlight, Decorah Middle, Decorah

Dubuque: Aaron Collins, Fastball, Washington Middle, Dubuque

Dubuque: Steve Broihahn, The Rockin' Cancoction, Washington Middle, Dubuque

Earlville: Ben Wessels, Pig Panel Counter, St. Francis Xavier, Dyersville

Fairfax: Austin Wisnousky, Fun BB Fertilizer, Prairie Heights, Cedar Rapids. Wisnousky is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Colleges of Engineering.

Fort Atkinson: Devin Franzen, Quick Seeder 2000,South Winneshiek Community Schools, Ossian

Ft. Atkinson: Zach Schwan, Slingster, CFS Catholic, Calmar

Ft. Madison: Sidney Boyer, Hot Diggety Dog, Lincoln Elementary, Fort Madison

Garner: Rick Young Bike-n-Bag, Garner-Hayfield, Garner

Glenwood: Sarah Hubner, Ultimate Ground Feeder, Glenwood West Elementary, Glenwood

Greene: Addison Johnson, Get Moving Game, Greene Elementary, Greene

Indianola: Aaron Elkin, Handi-Holder, Indianola Middle, Indianola

Indianola: Hannah Hayden Handy Handles, Indianola Middle, Indianola

Iowa City: Anthony Joslin-Lemire, The Baby Belt, Mid Prairie Home School Assistance Program, Kalona

Iowa City: Katherine Axt, Bubble Bandage, Mid-Prairie HSAP, Kalona. Axt is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Colleges of Engineering.

Iowa City: Lucas Van Den Bosch, Leeper Pole Keeper,Mid Prairie Home School Program, Kalona

Iowa City: Evan Banks, The Portable Basketball Holder, Shimek Elementary, Iowa City

Lake Mills: Luke Kayser, Spill Saver Cutting Board, Lake Mills Community, Lake Mills

Le Claire: Ansley Graham, Crab Mas     ter, Cody Elementary, LeClaire

LeClaire: Kate Staebell, The Pet Food Elevator, Bridgeview, LeClaire

Marion: Austin Flieder, Super Sifter, Novak Elementary, Marion. Flieder is also a winner of a $500 scholarship from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Colleges of Engineering.

Mason City: Kacy Sampson, Super Soccer Ball Holder, Hoover Elementary, Mason City

Minburn: Connor Mullen, PAWS 4000 (Pets Are Watered System), Adel-Desoto-Minburn Elementary, Minburn

Mt. Union: Kaleb Kongable, Quick Cookie Cutter, Winfield-Mt. Union, Winfield

Nevada: Jessie Heintz, Color Car-go, Nevada Middle School, Nevada

Nevada: Tanner Messerli, Double Picnic Side Seats, Nevada Middle School, Nevada

Oskaloosa: Leah Breon, Music To Go, Oskaloosa Christian,Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa: Emma Haselhuhn, Repair Rug, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Eddyville

Oskaloosa: Alexis Wright, Splash Guard, Oskaloosa Christian School, Oskaloosa

Ossian: Ben Hanson, Quick Seeder 2000, South Winneshiek CS, Ossian

Ottumwa: Bryan LaRue, Disabled Advantage Hunting Blind, Eisenhower, Ottumwa

Ottumwa: Kaitlyn Hogan, Doggie Doorbell, Eisenhower, Ottumwa

Ottumwa: Evan Pettis, Pet Swim Fin-Hydrotherapy Aid, Horace Mann Elementary, Ottumwa

Ottumwa: Jared Pettis, Pet Swim Fin-Hydrotherapy Aid, Horace Mann Elementary, Ottumwa

Peosta: Bradley Miehe, Knife Blok Lok, Eleanor Roosevelt Middle, Dubuque

Rockwell: Matthew Sturges, The Lazy Fisherman, Rockwell Swaledale, Rockwell

Sheffield: Dalton Streblow, Tumbling Tubes, Sheffield-Chapin, Sheffield

Solon: Owen Sherman, The Helmet Hanger,     Lakeview Elementary, Solon

Spillville: Ty Schmitt, Slingster, CFS Catholic, Calmar

Thor: Reed Burres, D.A.D.T. (Disposable Automobile Dirt Trap), St. Mary's, Humboldt

Walcott: Kari Moeller, Putter Outer, Walcott School, Walcott

Waterloo: Hanna Grimson, Bagger Helper, Kittrell Elementary, Waterloo

Waukee: Sebastien Mueller, Baby Mate, Waukee Elementary, Waukee

West Okoboji: Olivia Rohlk, Twist n' Click Dog Clicker,Okoboji Middle, Arnolds Park

Winfield: Anna Crawford, E-Z Towel Robe, Winfield-Mt. Union, Winfield

Winfield: Alicia Escher, E-Z Towel Robe, Winfield-Mt. Union, Winfield

Winfield: Lauren Baker, Safety Sash, Winfield-Mt. Union, Winfield

ILLINOIS

Milan, Ill: Joseph Tarnow, Never Dead Lock, Home School, Milan, IL

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500

PROGRAM CONTACT: Clar Baldus, Belin-Blank Center, 319-335-6189, clar-baldus@uiowa.edu

MEDIA CONTACT: Lois J. Gray, University News Services, 319-384-0077, lois-gray@uiowa.edu

WRITER: Lindsey Tinnell, University News Services.