Following her second-place finish in the northern district invention competition, Matilda Hessman, an upcoming ninth grader at Chagrin Falls High School, competed at the annual Ohio Invention Convention State Finals this summer. The talented young inventor earned $400 at the state competition held at COSI in Columbus on Saturday, July 19.
As a regional winner, Matilda joined select students from across Ohio who qualified for the prestigious state finals. The State Competition challenged student inventors to demonstrate not only their creative solutions but also their understanding of the invention process through detailed logbooks and compelling pitch presentations.
Her project, “The Sip Safe,” is a pet water bottle that connects to an app telling pet owners when the water level is low. Matilda used a small computer called a Raspberry Pi and wired an ultrasonic sensor to the computer. Next, she coded the computer to detect the distance between the sensor and the water. Finally, she built a mobile app that connects to the information in the computer to tell if the water level is high, medium, or low.
“I’m so incredibly proud of Matilda’s hard work and creativity in this project. She brought an idea, a willingness to learn something new and make some mistakes, and all of that ingenuity brought her to the state finals,” said the District’s Instructional Technology Coach Molly Klodor. "Matilda exemplifies the innovative spirit we hope to foster in our students."
At the state level, Matilda faced judges who evaluated three key components: her original invention, the documentation of her creative process in a detailed logbook, and her ability to articulate her vision through a pitch presentation. This comprehensive judging process ensures that student inventors develop not just creative thinking skills, but also technical documentation and communication abilities.
The Ohio Invention Convention State Finals concluded with an award ceremony celebrating all participating student inventors. While specific results from the state competition were not immediately available, Matilda's advancement to this level already marks a significant achievement for both the student and Chagrin Falls Schools.
The Ohio Invention League continues to support young innovators through programs designed to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking. Students interested in participating in future competitions can find more information about the invention process and upcoming events through the organization's educational resources.
For Chagrin Falls Schools, having a student advance to the state finals represents the success of programs that encourage hands-on learning and creative problem-solving among students.