Her solution: a zip-top bag that opens only halfway and a chute made out of the cardboard material used in a cereal box. “Every cereal lover on Earth will use the Fresh Chute,” Dix wrote on her project presentation board.
The daughter of Cindy and Craig Dix of Tipp City, she is a student at L.T. Ball Intermediate School and worked on her “Fresh Chute” project with Carmella Lammers, a gifted intervention specialist at the school.
This was Mackenzie’s second year in Invention Convention. “It’s fun,” she said of the program that challenges students to identify a problem, brainstorm solutions and field test their prototype inventions. She was surprised when her name was read last, as the top winner. “I was shocked. I didn’t think I won,” Mackenzie said.
Several of Mackenzie’s fellow L.T. Ball students also received awards at the regional finalist as did students from other area schools. The winner of the Teacher of Excellence Award was Erica Brickey, a gifted and talented educator for grades four and five with the Troy City Schools.
Brickey has been involved with Invention Convention for eight years, with around 160 Troy students participating this year.
She said she likes the program because “students are engaged in a real-world experience, practice both critical and creative thinking skills and can apply this problem-solving approach to many situations throughout their entire lives.”
In addition to the grand prize awarded to Mackenzie Dix, first place winners were:
Grade 2, Anthony Mascola, Rushmore/Studebaker, Huber Heights City schools, for his invention, Zoom Wipe, which makes cleaning fun for kids.
Grade 3, Evan Bundersen, Fairborn City Primary School, for Hy-Riserz, an invention for Lego builders
Grade 4, Davis Featherstone, L.T .Ball, Tipp City schools, for his invention, Safe Landing, a compact pad that when thrown out a window inflates to provide a safe landing in emergencies
Grade 5, Kathryn Schinaman, L.T. Ball, Tipp City schools, for Left-Right Lights that teach young children to put their shoes on the correct feet
Grade 6, Lexie Kimberlin, ECOT (Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow) for her invention, the Spillow, a waterproof pillow for sleepers who drool
Grade 7, Isabelle Caraway, Northmont Middle School, Clayton, for the Perfect Pump, a wider and longer dispenser for liquid soap, shampoo, paint, etc.
Grade 8, Grace Counts, Northmont Middle School, Clayton, for Hang in There Hair Bow, that holds a hair bow in place when dancing, cheerleading, etc.
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