March 17, 2025 --- One day in class, while fidgeting with a pair of scissors, fifth grader James Spoonmore had an idea. The Ecole Kenwood French Immersion student wondered: How do people with hand disabilities use scissors?

His solution was The Clap Cutter, a pair of scissors with finger braces that allow a person to insert a finger from each hand to cut. With help from his father, he printed a 3D prototype. The experience sparked a passion for invention.

“This was fun, and my dad got to help me,” Spoonmore said.

Spoonmore was one of 36 students who showcased their inventions at the Columbus City Schools Invention Convention in March. The event brought together students from Oakland Park Elementary, Ridgeview Middle School, Ecole Kenwood French Immersion, and Weinland Park Elementary.

Working individually or in teams, students created products aimed at solving real-world problems. This year’s inventions ranged from personal cosmetic solutions to pollution-fighting devices. Participants developed and tested prototypes, documented their progress in journals, and presented their inventions for feedback from Columbus City Schools staff.

“We are trying to get them to be creative problem solvers and give them an opportunity to have some choice in their learning,” said Carmen Tarbill, gifted consultant for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio.

Students who receive strong feedback and fit the available competition slots advance to the Regional Ohio Invention Competition, where they are judged by the Ohio Invention League based on a pitch video. Top performers move on to the State Competition in Columbus, hoping to qualify for the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in Michigan.

National qualifiers compete for awards, cash prizes, scholarships, and potential patent opportunities.

At the CCS Invention Convention, each student received a certificate and feedback form to help refine their projects for future competitions.

Lovie Debnam, a gifted intervention specialist at Ridgeview and Ecole Kenwood, accompanied 27 students to the event. For her, it was a full-circle moment, as her daughter had participated in the competition years ago.

To prepare, both schools formed after-school clubs late last year. Debnam noted that participation required dedication from both students and parents, given the extensive effort involved in designing a concept, developing a prototype, and preparing a presentation.

“The students who do this well have to be personally motivated and be able to balance their schoolwork on top of this,” Debnam said.

For Ridgeview sixth graders Mohammad Amiri and Haroon Takal, their motivation stemmed from a family dilemma. Takal comes from a household with three brothers, while Amiri has three brothers and a sister. With so many family members, shoes were in high demand.

Their solution? The 3-in-1 Shoe, a convertible design that can function as a shoe, slipper, or boot by adjusting the zippers.

“It was going to cost too much for each person, so if we combine them all in one, it saves money,” Amiri said.

Debra Gill, a gifted intervention specialist at Weinland Park, Berwick Alternative (K-8), South Mifflin STEM, and Broadleigh Elementary, was thrilled to see increased student participation this year. Last year, she and her five students were the only attendees from her schools.

Gill, who taught middle school science for 13 years, recalled a time before the pandemic when the CCS Invention Convention was a must-attend event. Previously, 80 to 90 students gathered at the Columbus College of Art & Design to present their projects. She remains committed to growing the event once again.

For her, fostering creativity and innovation is key.

“There are some great minds in this room, and these students have amazing ideas,” Gill said.

The CCS Invention Convention is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of young minds tackling real-world problems with creativity and determination. From adaptive scissors to multifunctional shoes, these students are proving that innovation knows no boundaries. With the support of dedicated educators, parents, and mentors, their ideas have the potential to shape the future.