The K-12 InVenture Prize program is an offshoot of The InVenture Prize at Georgia Tech that piloted in 2012 and stemmed from the passion and dedication of two high school teachers. Since then, K-12 InVenture Prize has grown as a program, hosting cohorts of teachers and students each year and expanding our reach into different counties.
A Decade of Discovery
The K-12 InVenture Prize celebrated celebrated its 10th anniversary during the 2024 program year. For the past 10 years, the program has uniquely fostered community engagement and leadership development among K-12 educators and students throughout Georgia. “Our teachers make this program possible,” says Danyelle Larkin, newly appointed Program Director for K-12 InVenture Prize.
2024
2023-24 Competition
Approximately 250 K-12 student inventors from 40 schools across the state — and for the first time, from select schools in Alabama — arrived on the Georgia Tech campus March 13 for the 2024 K-12 Inventure Prize State Finals 10th anniversary celebration. Judging circles were introduced for the first time, allowing students more structure and interaction with the community while bringing the competition in closer alignment with Nationals judging. Founding Director Dr. Roxanne Moore named Danyelle Larkin as the new director of the program.
2023
2022-2023 Competition
K-12 InVenture Prize partners with Georgia AIM, a new statewide initiative combining artificial intelligence and manufacturing innovations with transformational workforce development and K-12 outreach. Online Qualifiers return! From the online and regional qualifier events, 102 teams moved onto competing at State Finals. This year also marked the return of an in-person State Finals on Georgia Tech's Atlanta campus. Furthermore, 15 teams were invited to compete at the Invention Convention Worldwide national competition.
2022
2021-2022 Competition
The program expands again with a new regional partnership and qualifying event in South Georgia. In-person awards return alongside virtual events. The first South Georgia Regional Qualifier, or South Georgia Innovation Day, was held in Thomasville, GA. From Regional and Online Qualifiers, 182 teams participated in the virtual State Finals event. State Finals winners were invited to attend an in-person award ceremony on Georgia Tech's campus. Furthermore, 12 teams were invited to compete at the Invention Convention Worldwide national competition from which two moved onto competing at the first Invention Convention Worldwide global competition.
2021
2020-2021 Competition
The kindergarten curriculum is created. The COVID pandemic brings in- person events for the competition to a halt. In lieu of the Online Qualifier event as was done the last year, the 77 participating student teams were invited to virtually compete directly at State Finals. Furthermore, 17 teams were invited to compete at the Invention Convention Worldwide national competition.
2020
2019-2020 Competition
The competition holds the first online qualifier event, making the program even more accessible to students throughout the state. The curriculum for grades 1-3 is completed and posted online while progress is made in further developing curriculum for grades 9-12. From the Savannah Regional and Online Qualifiers, 98 student teams were invited to compete at State Finals. Furthermore, 11 teams were invited to compete at the Invention Convention Worldwide national competition.
2019
2018-2019 Competition
The program expands yet again, partnering with Georgia Tech’s Savannah campus to begin work on the first regional qualifying event for the competition. The program’s curriculum for grades 3-5 is completed and made available on the K-12 InVenture website. The K-12 InVenture Prize Board Game is created, bringing a fun, competitive approach to engage students in invention education topics. The competition hosted 94 participating student teams at State Finals. Furthermore, 13 teams were invited to compete at the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo.
2018
2017-2018 Competition
The program is re-branded as “The K-12 InVenture Prize.” The 2018 competition hosted 90 participating student teams at State Finals. Furthermore, 15 teams were invited to compete at the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo.
2017
2016-2017 Competition
The 2017 competition hosted 82 participating student teams at State Finals. Furthermore, nine teams were invited to compete at the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo.
2016
2015-2016 Competition
The program further expands to include a middle school division. IronCAD joins as program partner to sponsor a new specialty award for the competition. State Finalists move on to compete at the first National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo.
2015
2014-2015 Competition
The program takes a big leap forward, expanding to include elementary schools. The competition iterated with Mock Pitch becoming virtual and synchronous. TAG Manufacturing steps up to sponsor a new manufacturing award, the first sponsored specialty award of the competition.
2014
2013-2014 Competition
The pilot year for the program, known as “The K-12 InVenture Challenge,” launches strong right out of the gate with teacher PD, Mock Pitch and State Finals! Mock Pitch was held virtually and State Finals hosted 10 teams from three Georgia high schools on Georgia Tech's Atlanta campus. Winners included eight Finalists, three Placement Awardees, and the People's Choice Awardee.
2013
Summer 2013
Stemmed from the passion and dedication of two high school teachers, the idea to expand Georgia Tech’s InVenture Prize competition becomes reality when Georgia Tech’s retired Vice Provost and Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering Ray Vito secures a donation from the Fitzgerald Foundation to pilot the program competition for Georgia high schools. CEISMC then organizes the first summer professional development with 10 teachers participating.
The InVenture Prize is an innovation competition where undergraduates and recent graduates from various disciplines at Georgia Tech design, development, and iterate their innovations to compete for the opportunity to take their inventions to the next level.