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One of the most powerful outcomes of the Inventionland Education Innovation Science Class is seeing the young student inventors win at the national level and then earn actual licensing agreements. Over the past two years, that vision has become reality for multiple student teams who identified everyday problems and engineered smart, market-ready solutions.

Last year, students Mia and Madison achieved a milestone many adult inventors never reach: they earned a licensing agreement for their “No Cry™ Hair Tie” invention developed through the Inventionland Education program. Their success demonstrated what happens when students are taught the real-world 9-step inventing method and given excellent support from their teachers, Ms. Karen Garland and Mr. Ben English of Grove City Middle School. After earning their licensing agreement, their product was brought to market and is now available on Amazon, Jokari, and other websites worldwide.

See the video about the “No Cry, Hair Tie” inventing method here.

This year, Olivia Adams and Samantha Preist from Grove City Middle School, part of the Grove City Area School District, earned their own licensing agreement after capturing 1st Place in the Middle School Division with their invention, “The Untie Not.”

“The Untie Not” tackles a universally familiar frustration: shoelaces that refuse to stay tied. Olivia and Samantha’s solution is both elegant and practical, a small, lightweight mechanism that attaches directly to shoelaces and secures the knot in place. The design keeps shoes tied throughout the day without altering the shoe or requiring complicated adjustments, making it ideal for students, athletes, and anyone constantly on the move.

Their product is currently in final development ahead of its debut on the international marketplace later this year.

Watch the video about how Olivia and Samantha developed a love for STEM here >