Second-grader’s invention wins Best of Show award
Bed-making used to be a real chore for second-grader Hannah Wolf.
Because her bed was pushed against a wall, she’d either have to move the bed out from the wall to tuck her blankets in or jump on top, which resulted in a wrinkled mess.
Thanks to Beddar Bed Tails, bed-making isn’t such a hassle for the Hayden Meadows student. She sewed ribbons to one edge of her bed sheets and blankets. The ribbons go under her mattress and to the opposite – and more easily accessible – side of her bed.
Instead of wrestling to make her bed, now all Hannah has to do is tug the ribbons, automatically straightening and tucking her sheets. No more rearranging furniture and no more wrinkled bedspread.
The invention earned Hannah one of the top prizes in this year’s Invent Idaho invention contest, held March 12 in Boise. She received the Best of Show award for grades 1-4.
“I was really, really surprised,” Hannah said. “I thought my invention was really good and I was glad I made it.”
Morgan Richards, a seventh-grader from Holy Family Catholic School, won the Best of Show award for grades 5-8 by inventing the “Sifter Stable Fork.”
An adaptation of the pooper scooper, the Sifter Stable Fork allows Morgan to sift horse manure from the expensive bedding the family uses in their horse stalls. Morgan took a standard stable fork and added a basket. It allows the pellets used as bedding to fall through the basket, but catches the manure. The 13-year-old’s invention had won second-place at the regional contest.
Joy Richards, Morgan’s mother, said they weren’t expecting her to place at the state competition and were surprised when she got one of the top awards. About 10 people even expressed an interest in buying one of Morgan’s creations.
In addition to both Best of Show awards, North Idaho students claimed nine first-places prizes, more first-prize awards than any other region in the state.
First-place winners include Maggie Kirscher, Dalton Elementary; Kyle Hawk, Krissy Neely-McCaughan, Jacob Herold, and Jocelyn Duran, all of Hayden Meadows; Lauren Fritz, Holy Family Catholic School; Tyler McKanna, Lakeland Junior High; Madeline Baker, Ponderosa Elementary; and Alex Winslow, Post Falls Christian.
Second-place winners include Zoe Ball, Hayden Meadows; Nicole Kiyoka Bouvia, Ponderosa Elementary; Jessica Lindenberg, Sandpoint Charter School; Taran Loper, Skyway Elementary; Francis Liberty Smith, Spirit Lake Elementary; and Brianna Loper, Woodland Middle School.
Third-place prizes went to Hailey Knox, Athol Elementary; Kylie Rasmussen, Dalton Elementary; Ryan Swayze, Hayden Meadows; Amanda Enders, Holy Family Catholic School; Tiffany Beasley, Sandpoint Charter School; and Riley Moreen, Skyway Elementary.
About 150 student inventions were entered in the state competition.
Geography Bee winners compete at state
Several North Idaho students have qualified to compete in this weekend’s 2005 Idaho Geography Bee in Boise.
Jared Raynor, a fifth-grader from Dalton Elementary, had a full entourage set to accompany him to the competition. Friends and family were planning to come from as far away as Seattle and Scottsdale, Ariz., to cheer on the 10-year-old, according to a letter from his proud parents, Ron Raynor and Cindy Pischner-Raynor.
Other local students qualifying for the state competition include David Bjelland, Rathdrum; Ashton Jenicek, Pinehurst; Maria Givens, McLain Leonard, Savannah Lovitt, Tom Osborne-Moss, Aaron Scarpa, Alex True and Jaime Wright, all Coeur d’Alene; and Leah Muzzy and Jesse Wedewer, both of Hayden.
Geography bees were held at the school level and the top 100 scorers statewide were selected to compete in the state tournament, which was held Friday. Results weren’t available as of press time.
State winners receive $100 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national tournament and the chance for a $25,000 college scholarship.
National Merit Finalists named
Three Coeur d’Alene students have been named National Merit Finalists, the school district announced this month.
Elisa Bright, a Coeur d’Alene High student, plans to attend Brigham Young University. She plays the trumpet in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band and sings in her school’s select choir, the Chamber Singers. Bright tutors students in algebra, science and Spanish and holds down a part-time job. She recently placed second statewide in the “Voice of Democracy” essay contest, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Karen Tekverk, a Lake City High student, is enrolled in Advanced Placement and Honors classes and can fluently speak five languages. She is in the National Honor Society, an Idaho Top Scholar and earned her academic letter. She is working toward her black belt in karate and is involved in several extracurricular activities. Tekverk plans to attend a private, four-year college on the East Coast and major in languages, history and architecture, according to a press release from the school district.
Bryan Klein, also of Lake City High, excels in math and science. He recently placed second in the North Idaho College math competition and received the 2004 U.S. Achievement Academy National Science Award. Klein is in the National Honor Society and is an Idaho Top Scholar. He has his academic letter and competes in debate. He wants to attend college and major in pre-medicine or international relations.