Fourth-grade students from Palos School District 118 took home three awards at the 2023 Young Inventor Challenge.
Students from Palos East and West Elementaries participated in the event on November 4 and 5 in Chicago. The program gives students ages 6 to18 an opportunity to develop and pitch their original inventions to toy and game companies and other industry professionals.
This year Palos 118 students won in 3 of 4 categories for the K – 4th grade junior division.
This year’s winners were Carol Pack who won Best Game for her game Catastrophe of Hairballs, Shea Curran who won in the Most Authentic category for her game Zombie Zania, and Marley McCall who won Best Pitch for her game Makeover.
The students developed their toys and games as part of the District’s Accelerated Learning Program for Students, which is taught by District 118 teacher Julie McNamara. Mrs. McNamara said that her students’ participation in the Young Inventor Challenge is an invaluable experience as they get a chance to take an original idea and develop it into a working game. She noted that the game challenge reinforces practices such as critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and leadership which she notes are key skills for future success.
“Even though all my ALPS students can’t bring home an award, they’re all still winners,” said McNamara.
“I’m proud of each and every one of them for seeing this project through to completion,” she said.