Press Release
Eighth Annual Young Inventors program looks for the next big invention

Livonia, MI (January 15, 2019) — Middle School students in Wayne County are vying for top spots in the Young Inventors Award Program.

 Top finalists will be acknowledged on Thursday January 17 at 6:30 p.m. A team of judges reviewed each project and picked the top two winners from each school and top three overall. The judges included five team members from Alpha USA.

 “We want to inspire young talent to pursue careers in STEM areas,” said Chuck Dardas, president and CEO of Alpha USA. “There is so much opportunity in manufacturing and engaging talent at a young age is important in career development.  This year we invited a Patent Attorney to join the event and review the inventions for possible opportunities.”

More than 200 people are expected to gather at Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center DiPonio Room to hear invention concepts from middle-school students from four school districts as part of the annual Young Inventors Project.

 The program is coordinated by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, Alpha USA and Schoolcraft College, in conjunction with the Livonia, Clarenceville, Wayne-Westland and Garden City school districts. The students who participated attend the following schools: Garden City Middle School, Holmes Middle School, Franklin Middle School, Stevenson Middle School, Frost Middle School, Emerson Middle School and Clarenceville Middle School.

 “This community wide effort by local business and education leaders is a way to get young people to think about the types of careers that might interest them,” said Dan West, president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. “This program continues to grow and it is our hope this project inspires these students to look at the high-demand skilled and technical careers.”

 Educators at the respective schools pared the inventors down to five finalists from each building. A panel of business leaders reviewed all inventions by the finalists to determine the top invention in each school, and top-3 inventions overall.

 All finalists are invited to the Young Inventors Showcase to present their invention to a crowd of their parents, educators and other community leaders.

 “This event gives these students an opportunity to share their ideas,” said West. “We are so glad to give them this platform.”  

 Who: Middle School Students, Superintendents, parents, representatives from the Livonia Chamber of Commerce and ALPHA USA, Patent Attorney

What: Young Inventors Program

Where: Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center

When: Thursday January 17 at 6:30 p.m.

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