Runner up Cole Drewyer (left) and top winner Madison Clelland pose for a photo after being announced the winners of the Michigan Invention Convention hosted by the Henry Ford Museum on April 27. The fifth grade students from Miller Elementary competed against 73 different inventions in their age group and won the two top spots. (Photos courtesy of Tasha Clelland)
By Scott Bolthouse--The Huron Hub ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com Published May 3, 2019 -- 11:00 a.m. Updated May 3, 2019 -- 2:45 p.m.
Two Huron fifth grade students pulled off an amazing feat last weekend and won both top spots at the Michigan Invention Convention hosted by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
Miller Elementary students Madison Clelland and Cole Drewyer competed against 73 different inventions in their age group and were the only two winners to move on to the national competition at the end of May.
The students are part of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program that is taught by Kelly Chojnowski.
Chojnowski teaches STEM at both elementary schools in the Huron District and took about 45 fifth graders with her to the convention.
The group brought 25 different inventions to the museum last Saturday that they have been working on and creating for the past six months.
“I am so excited and proud to announce that both of the winners were from my fifth grade group,” Chojnowski said. “It is an amazing feat that the state of Michigan will be represented by these two students, both from Huron Schools.”
Madison Clelland was the top winner with her “Stop, Drop, and Roll” invention, which is a roller attachment that attaches to the rail of a baby crib.
The roller prevents a toddler or baby from gaining leverage and climbing out of the crib.
“This is a safety feature that keeps babies safe from injury from the act of climbing or falling out of the crib, and also from wandering the house unsupervised preventing possible danger as well,” Chojnowski said.
Photos: Huron STEM students and staff at the Michigan Invention Convention at the Henry Ford Museum.
Runner up Cole Drewyer invented “The Wheelchair Hydromatic.”
“This is an attachment that would go underneath a wheelchair,” Chojnowsk said. “It is a hydraulic lift that raises and lowers a wheelchair to accommodate people confined to a wheelchair and allows them to comfortably sit at tables, or even be higher in a conversation setting.”
Chojnowski said the attachment is especially beneficial for children in wheelchairs by allowing for height adjustments with their smaller chairs.
The group will head to the national competition through a sponsorship from Huron School Board members who decided to pitch in and help.
Check back with The Huron Hub for the results.
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Thank you for such a nice article highlighting the success of these awesome kids! We are very excited to attend Nationals! I wanted to acknowledge the Huron Board of Education members who have already agreed to help fund the students and myself to attend this event@ we thank you very much for helping to make this possible!!!!
Thanks for the updated information, Kelly. I’ll update the article with that info. Really happy to highlight what these young people did. Congratulations, and good luck to them at the state competition!
Thank you so much Scott!!!!!!!1
You’re welcome! Let me know the results of the state competition, once it’s done.