Button:  Return to SBC home

Page title:  Young Inventors Program

Graphic: boy shooting rocket

YIF Home | YIF Resources | Awards | Curriculum | Standards | Volunteer Form| YIF Gazette
YIF Registration | News | Teacher Workshops | Community Partners | YIF Entry Form | Judging Form & Criteria

YIF winners

YOUNG INVENTORS HONORED 2008

Invention process graphic






Young Inventors Special Awards: April 5, 2008

  • Andrew Erickson, Adapted Lawnmower, Echo Park Elementary: Award for "Improving Quality of Life" presented by Erik VanGuilder for Medtronic, Inc.
  • Ryan Zimmel, Backyard Zimmboni, Highland Catholic School: Award for "Engineering Excellence" presented by Gerard Drewek for General Dynamics/AIS
  • Kevin Walsh, Circatar, Highland Catholic School: Award for "Thinking Outside the Box" presented by Mike Feller of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA)
  • Ben Jacobus, Smoke Detector Battery Tester, Bailey Elementary: Award for "Excellence in Electrical Engineering" presented by George Hennum for Schneider Electric/Square D Foundation
  • David Flanaghan, TackleBox Desk, Bailey Elementary: Award for "Innovation" presented by Leslie Kampf for 3M

The Science Museum of Minnesota will display six YIF inventions from April 11 - May 26. The "Extended Exhibit" awards presented by J. Shipley Newlin Jr. and Shari Hartshorn for the Science Museum of Minnesota are:

  • Annette Williams & Leslie Hayes, 2-n-1 Toy Chest, Park View Montessori School
  • Andrew Erickson, Adapted Lawnmower, Echo Park Elementary
    Taylor Simon, Christmas Tree Watering Ornament, Bluff Creek Elementary
  • Kevin Walsh, Circatar, Highland Catholic School
    Sydney Weaver-Lang, Grip-A-Pan, Fridley Middle School
    Elizabeth Edlund, Love to Read & Write Wedge, East Union Elementary

Young inventor exhibiting at the Fair chose inventions of 3 peers as favorites. The "Young Inventors Choice" awards presented by Erin and Laura Holt, student volunteers for the Young Inventors Fair for nine years are:

  • Ryan Zimmel, Backyard Zimmboni, Highland Catholic School
    Elizabeth Edlund, Love to Read & Write Wedge, East Union Elementary
    Joshua Doyle, Robo Dog Dish, Bluff Creek Elementary

The Minnesota Historical Society and the Minneapolis Central Library will display the inventions of 4 YIF inventors from May 1 - August 16 with special program on June 7. The "Minnovation: 150 Years of Ingenuity" awards presented by Jean & Sam Willhide are:

  • Anson Allard, Shower Buddy, Bluff Creek Elementary
  • Joshua Doyle, Robo Dog Dish, Bluff Creek Elementary
  • Quinn Eidem, Automatic Toothpaste Dispenser, Clover Ridge Elementary
  • Virginia Fritz & Margo Sanders, The Stall Stopper, Echo Park Elementary
  • Jaqueline Gnatkowski, Sleeping Beauty-Beauty Sleeper, Glacier Hills Elementary
Friday's Showcase Minnesota on KARE 11 TV:

  • Andrew Carter, Easy Feeder 2008, Southview Elementary
  • Taylor Simon, Christmas Tree Watering Ornament, Bluff Creek Elementary
  • Kevin Walsh, Circatar, Highland Catholic
  • Ryan Zimmel, Backyard Zimmboni, Highland Catholic
Saturday Morning Show on KARE 11 TV:

  • Mickayla Hinkle, Scoop and Throw, Woodbury Elementary
  • Heidi Katter, Heated Swim Parka, St. Paul Academy
  • Hayden Lohse, Dry Guy, Bluff Creek Elementary
  • Trevor Pedersen, Disk Dispatcher, Victoria Elementary

Program contact graphic

Kelly Ascheman
YIF Coordinator
612/638-1555 or
kelly.ascheman@metroecsu.org
Fax: 612/706-0811

Button:  Go to Contributions Page


Go to Metro ECSU site

Image: Metro ECSU logo


Button:  Go to Volunteer Opportunities Page