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What participants say

Hoopla Rack

Hoopla Rack,
third place and $4,000,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity;
third place and $700,
Tong Prototype Prize;
and Younkle Best Presentation Award

“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”

—Danielle McIntosh

Pen Smart

Pen Smart,
$1,000 Judges’ Award for Special Merit,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity

“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”

—Daniel Gartenberg

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Tong Prototype Prize 2007

Windshield Whiz

Windshield Whiz (large image)

Window Inked: A mechanical windshield cover, operated completely on the driver’s side of the vehicle, that prevents snow and ice from accumulating on a car windshield

“We entered for our senior design class, but it’s not only that, it’s the ability to be involved in the entire design process and dealing with production of something that you could produce when you go out into the working world. One of the things I’ve really enjoyed is doing everything in the process. I now know more about what I want to do, that I want to be more on the design end of the process than the manufacturing end.”
— Colin Hackbarth

“I think we’ve learned a lot about the design process, building things to standard, planning, and marketing. There’s a lot of work involved, but if you really enjoy it, it feels more like fun than work. You’ll feel really rewarded when you finish.”
—Richard Ehmer

Innovators: Chelsea Sabo, Colin Hackbarth, Doug LaPoint and Richard Ehmer



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