.jpeg "The Greenon InvenTeam")
Greenon High School is one of 14 schools nationwide to be selected as a 2019 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam, a prestigious program that empowers teams of high school students to build a technological invention to solve a problem of their own choosing.
A team of 12 Greenon High School students, led by five teachers will explore options to safely reduce the amount of man-made debris in local waterways through a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant.
Now in its sixteenth year as a national grants initiative, InvenTeams inspire young people to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. The 2019–2020 InvenTeams are comprised of students, teachers and community mentors that will pursue year-long invention projects that involve creative thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The students also gain knowledge of computer science while working on their projects, which is a critical skill for all young people and especially helpful to their future work as inventors. InvenTeams apply their learnings and experiences to build an invention that will be showcased at a technical review within their home community in February 2020, and then again as a final prototype at EurekaFest — an invention celebration in June 2020 that will be held at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
“I am impressed by this year’s InvenTeams and their commitment to solving important problems in society,” said Stephanie Couch, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program. “By drawing on many different disciplines, the InvenTeam initiative helps shape well-rounded students who are better equipped to tackle the technological problems they will face in the modern workplace. Approximately 2,750 students have taken part in the InvenTeam experience and 35% are girls, which is encouraging in a time when women represent only 10% of U.S. patent holders. The InvenTeam initiative fosters the ability to engage with others in order to develop understandings of problems and to envision solutions that take the views of end users into account. The work supports students of all backgrounds in developing creative and inventive problem solving skills that will be of benefit in their college and career endeavors, and in their personal lives.”
Ten female students are on the 12-person Greenon team. The Clark County Engineer’s Office and Enon-based company Seepex Inc. have committed to supporting the project and will work with the team throughout the year. The InvenTeam is also raising money to help fund additional costs for the project. Donations to the Greenon InvenTeam can be made to Greenon Schools.
“This year’s projects demonstrate the dedication of young students to make a positive impact in the world through invention,” said Tony Perry, the Lemelson-MIT Program’s invention education coordinator who will work with the teams throughout the year. “The InvenTeams will help solve major problems in areas such as environmental sustainability, regional food harvesting, and healthy living.”
Greenon STEM Educator Mr. Tom Jenkins was one of 35 teachers from across the country in the summer of 2019 to win the 2019 MIT Excite Award.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our Greenon Knights to work on a project that will address an environmental issue facing our local community with the help and expertise of world-class experts,” said Greenon Superintendent Brad Silvus. “Over the last several years, Mr. Jenkins has embraced the opportunity to build a leading STEM program here at Greenon Schools. The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant and Excite Award are a recognition of the outstanding STEM opportunities available to our students.”
The 12 students on the Greenon InvenTeam are: Alexa Cunningham, Arizona Henderson, Braelynn Cameron, Kacie Sizer, Makenzie Gossett, Emma Bennet, Alex Tighe, Lacey Herdman, Kylie Mader, Rhea Thomas, Masonn Hayslip, and Tyler Jenkins. They will be led by Greenon teachers Kyle Bandy, Tina Harris, Tom Jenkins, Jim Shaner, and Jennifer Tropp.
Visit the
Greenon InvenTeam's blog to follow updates on the project.