Chicago, IL – The Illinois Student Invention Convention (ISIC) honored the top young inventors from across the state at our annual Celebration, Showcase, and Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2025 at the South Side YMCA in Chicago. We recognized 76 standout student winners, selected from 243 students who participated in the statewide judging competition, from a remarkable group of over 6,000 who took part in ISIC during the 2024–2025 school year. The Celebration event featured an awards ceremony with remarks from Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, a student invention showcase, and interactive STEM activity stations and innovative workshops sponsored by ISIC partners. During the awards ceremony, 29 students were selected to represent Illinois and compete at Invention Convention Worldwide’s U.S. Nationals.

In June,  these National finalists traveled to The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, to compete at Invention Convention Worldwide’s National competition. There, they joined 490 K–12 inventors from across the country, attended workshops, networked with fellow innovators, and even pitched their inventions to producers from Shark Tank. 

Since its inception in 2012, the ISIC program has served over 35,000  students, with participation growing from 4,500 last year to 6,000 this year. 

Below are the winners who were honored at the awards ceremony. 

Top Scoring Projects Advancing to the US National Invention Convention

  • Abigail S. and Zara R. for The Bottom Feeder (Nettelhorst Elementary)
  • Ahtziri D. for Lost Lotion (Quest Academy)
  • Alice N. for Zip Bucket (Bronzeville Classical)
  • Ariadne M. and Elena G. for Universal Hanger (Pulaski International School)
  • Ayana K. for Hush Patrol (Central Elementary School)
  • Bryna K. for Fans to Keep Us Cool (Armour Elementary School)
  • Carson S. and Hunter S. for Footie Snow Pants (Saturday Scientists)
  • Carter R. for Pirates Voyage (Saturday Scientists)
  • Ellis R., Natalia C., and Payton S. for Posture Princess (James Ward Elementary School)
  • Isabella F. for ThermoHarness (Quest Academy)
  • Jack R. for Expandable Shoes (Quest Academy)
  • Jessa J. and Mila A. for Pet Calming Collar (Norwood Park Elementary School)
  • Judah R. and Zemora L. for The Safety Door (Armour Elementary School)
  • Lexi R. and Nova L. for Cat Duster (Armour Elementary School)
  • Liliana S. and Quinten T. for No Noise Chair (Armour Elementary School)
  • London B. and Raul R. for Robot to Clean Up Toys (Armour Elementary School)
  • Portia D. for PeacefulPlush (Quest Academy)
  • Shrikari P. for The BreathFlow Trainer (Quest Academy)
  • Vedant S. for RetinaWatch (Quest Academy)

1st place Overall Ellis R., Natalia C., and Payton S. for Posture Princess (James Ward Elementary School)

2nd place Overall Shrikari P. for The BreathFlow Trainer (Quest Academy)

3rd place Overall  Ayana K. for Hush Patrol (Central Elementary). 

SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS

  • Molex Transformation Award: Vedant S. for Retina Watch (Quest Academy)
  • mHub Prototype Award: Alessandro P. and Chase M. for Pill Pal (Nettelhorst Elementary)
  • Repurposed Materials Award: Fatima T. for Hat Scarf (Central Elementary School)
  • Founder’s Award: Linden C., Aubrey D. and Adriel H. for HeatStride (Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center)

GRADE LEVEL WINNERS

Kindergarten Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Bryna K. for Fans to Keep Us Cool (Armour Elementary School)
  • 2nd place – London B. and Raul R. for Robot to Clean Up Toys (Armour Elementary School)
  • 3rd place –  Enrique T. for Lady bug stopper (Armour Elementary School)

1st Grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Lexi R. and Nova L. for Cat Duster (Armour Elementary School)
  • 2nd place – Judah R. and Zemora L. for The Safety Door (Armour Elementary School)
  • 3rd place – Alyssa W., Brooklyn P., and Jo’Rya P for Comfy Cozy Chair Changer (Wacker Elementary)

2nd grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Carson S. and Hunter S. for Footie Snow Pants (Saturday Scientists)
  • 2nd place – Liliana S. and Quinten T. for No Noise Chair (Armour Elementary School)
  • 3rd place – Connor J. for Charge to Fly High (Chicago City Day School)

3rd grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place- Ayana K. for Hush Patrol (Central Elementary School)
  • 2nd place – Alice N. for Zip Bucket (Bronzeville Classical)
  • 3rd place – Brooklyn J., Jayceon B., Matthew G., and Rayna H. for The Height Helper (Shoop Academy of Math, Science, Technology)

4th grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Carter R. for Pirates Voyage (Saturday Scientists)
  • 2nd place –   Ariadne M. and Elena G. for Universal Hanger (Pulaski International School)
  • 3rd place –  Brinley L., Harper S., and Presley L. for The Handy Helper (Farmingdale Elementary)

5th Grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place –Jack R for Expandable Shoes (Quest Academy)
  • 2nd place – Isabella F for ThermoHarness (Quest Academy)
  • 3rd place – Saniyah G. and Will M. for The Bear Detector (North Shore Country Day School)

6th Grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Shrikari P. for The BreathFlow Trainer (Quest Academy)
  • 2nd place – Jessa J. and Mila A. for Pet Calming Collar (Norwood Park Elementary School)
  • 3rd place – Michelle S. for Dissolving Flask (Hester Junior High School)

7th Grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Portia D. forPeacefulPlush (Quest Academy)
  • 2nd place – Ahtziri D. for Lost Lotion (Quest Academy)
  • 3rd place – Myles J. and Visharad S. for EncoZip (Lake Forest Country Day School)

8th Grade Category Winners:

  • 1st place – Ellis R., Natalia C., and Payton S. for Posture Princess (James Ward Elementary School)
  • 2nd place – Abigail S. and Zara R. for The Bottom Feeder (Nettelhorst Elementary)
  • 3rd place – Rayan Z. for PyroShield (Quest Academy)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Linden C., Aubrey D. and Adriel H. for HeatStride ( Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center)
Payton J. for Quick Turner (Chicago World Language Academy)
Brylen L. for The Lazy Wash (Elise Ford Allen Academy)
Jarah K. and Lilly S. for GlassAlert (Glen Oak Community Learning Center)
Brooklynn D.and Dezire J. for The Snackable (Harold B. Dawson Jr. Middle School)
Timothy F. for the Double Bracket Glider (Maple School)
Landon K., Noah M., Keshaun S., and Harmoni S. for Homework on the Go Learning System (Mark Bills Middle School)
Natalia P. for The Sleeper (Pui Tak Christian School)
Henry B., Noah H., Johnathan H., and Gabriel V. for HydroPack (Reservoir Gifted Academy)
Valente M and Jaylen S for Nonslip Contraction Spray (Rolling Acres Middle School)
Elanor S. for The Safety Blanket (Sterling Middle School)
Acacia H., Kemiyah P., and Rihanna T. for Lotion It Up (Von Steuben Middle School)
Jenesis S. for Refill water bottle (Wadsworth STEM Elementary School)