Charles Smith
Six students from the Ottumwa Community School District participated in the annual State Invent Iowa Competition hosted by the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center in Iowa City in April. Due to the coronavirus, the state competition was held in an online format.
Over 150 students participated from across the state of Iowa in grades K-8, through an online and mailed application process. Ottumwa participants included: Lexi Dunn, Arya Ebert, Jace Guertin, and Brooks Huber, kindergarten, Eisenhower with their "Cubeformers" invention; Charles Smith, first grade, Eisenhower, with his “H.E.R.B.: Home Emergency Responder Beacon” invention; and Madalynn Sertterh, fourth grade, Liberty, with her “Maddy's Material Sorter” invention.
Out of 34 inventions in the K-4 division, Charles Smith received first place for his invention. As a result, Charles qualified for the National Invention Convention. He will be one of several students representing Iowa in the 2020 National Invention Convention in Dearborn, Michigan, held through The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in May. This year's National Invention Convention will be held virtually due to the coronavirus.
Congratulations to all Ottumwa Community School District students for participating and good luck to Charles at Nationals!