During National Robotics Week, the Region V STEM Center exemplifies how access to tools, mentorship, and an innovative environment transforms education. Here, robotics accelerates problem-solving, teamwork, and genuine innovation.

This focus on innovation grew even stronger when leadership at the Region V STEM Center partnered with Inventionland Education to help redesign their space. The goal was clear: take an older facility and elevate it into a more immersive, high-impact learning environment that could further ignite curiosity and creativity across the region.

Building on a Strong Foundation

The Region V STEM Center already serves more than 30,000 students across Southwest Louisiana, with a range of programs designed for impact. Its reach includes:

• Interactive student field trips with hands-on STEM activities like robotics.
• Weekly STEM classes tailored to different age groups.
• Professional development and in-service training for teachers, paras, librarians, etc.
• Hosting major events, including the 2026 VEX Robotics Louisiana State Championship.

This is especially relevant during National Robotics Week, as the center’s excellence in robotics drives a culture of high achievement. High-level student participation in competitions motivates students to pursue desirable STEM careers.

Transforming the Learning Experience

Inventionland Education creates immersive STEM environments that go beyond traditional classrooms. At the Region V STEM Center, these enhancements not only elevated student engagement and excitement but also gave educators new tools and methods, making STEM learning more accessible and impactful for everyone involved.

The collaboration focused on:

• Immersive design elements that bring energy and creativity into the space.
• Flexible learning zones that support collaboration, prototyping, and group problem solving.
• Visual signage throughout the environment to reinforce innovation and real-world application.
• Upgraded teaching areas that empower educators to deliver more hands-on learning.

Robotics as a Catalyst for Innovation

National Robotics Week underscores the importance of robotics at the Region V STEM Center. Here, students develop not only technical skills but also an engineering mindset.

Through robotics programs, students:

• Design and build functional systems.
• Test, iterate, and improve their creations.
• Compete in competitions that mirror real-world challenges.
• Develop communication and teamwork skills under pressure.

The center’s success in competitions demonstrates the program’s quality and educators’ commitment, reinforcing the value of meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.

Supporting Educators at Every Level

Educators now have access to spaces that better support this by aligning the physical environment with modern STEM instruction, including:

• Project-based learning
• Student-driven exploration
• Collaborative challenges and team-based problem solving

This alignment helps educators deliver lessons that connect directly to the skills students use in robotics competitions and beyond, reinforcing the commitment to both the curriculum and the environment.

Inspiring the Next Generation Workforce

At its core, the Region V STEM Center exists to prepare students for real-world opportunities. By enhancing the center’s environment, Inventionland Education helped strengthen that mission and create a pipeline for future scientists, technologists, engineers, and math-based careers.

A Model for Regional STEM Innovation

The collaboration between Region V STEM Center and Inventionland Education shows what’s possible when leadership, vision, and design are tightly aligned.

With expanded capabilities and an even more engaging environment, the center is now better positioned than ever to serve Southwest Louisiana.

National Robotics Week highlights the Region V STEM Center as a model for robotics education and more.

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That outcome did not happen by chance. It is the result of Inventionland Education’s applied STEAM curriculum, intentionally built around creativity, ownership, and real-world problem-solving.

In 2024, students Mia Mertz and Madison Mulato developed the No Cry Hair Tie, a product designed to eliminate a common frustration for users. Their idea moved beyond the classroom and into the marketplace through a licensing agreement. Today, their product is available online through major retail channels, demonstrating that middle school students can create commercially viable solutions when given the right support.

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At the heart of the course is the Inventionland 9-step inventing method that mirrors how real-world inventors and product developers work. Students begin by identifying everyday problems, the kinds of frustrations people experience but rarely stop to solve. From there, they move through brainstorming, concept development, sketching, testing, refining, and ultimately prototype creation and final product pitching.

But Innovation Science doesn’t stop at building something that works. Students also learn crucial soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and the value of teamwork. They craft compelling pitches that explain the problem, their solution, how it functions, and why it matters. In other words, they learn how to think like entrepreneurs.

The results are impressive. Many student teams don’t just create clever classroom projects; they produce prototypes at the local, regional, and national levels. Some have even progressed beyond competition to earn actual licensing agreements, demonstrating that their ideas have real commercial potential, some in the global marketplace.

One of the latest examples comes from Grove City Middle School, where students Ethan Cooke, Elijah Lawson, and Gavin Purdy developed an invention called the “Needle Guard.”

Their idea addresses a common frustration for athletes: losing or breaking the small pump needle used to inflate sports balls. Whether it’s a basketball, soccer ball, football, or volleyball, the tiny needle can easily snap, bend, or even get lost inside the ball during inflation.

The Needle Guard is designed to prevent that from happening. Their solution helps protect the needle from breaking and keeps it from slipping into the ball in the first place. It’s a simple concept, but one rooted in real-world experience and thoughtful problem-solving.

What makes this achievement especially meaningful is not just the invention itself, but the process behind it. These students didn’t stumble upon a product idea by chance. They applied innovation principles, collaborated as a team, tested their thinking, and refined their prototype into something competition-ready.

That’s the power of Innovation Science.

Students gain confidence in their ability to solve problems. They learn resilience through iteration. They discover how creativity connects to engineering, design, and entrepreneurship. And in some cases, they see firsthand how an idea born in a classroom can evolve into a product with marketplace potential.

When education moves beyond memorization and into invention, students don’t just learn science. They put innovation and invention front and center.

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Every year on National Inventors Day, we celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and perseverance that drive innovation forward. While many people think of inventors as adults working in labs or garages, some of today’s most inspiring inventors are still in middle school, and they’re already achieving what many adults only dream of: turning ideas into licensed products to sell globally.

At Inventionland Education, National Inventors Day represents more than just celebrating famous inventors of the past. It’s about recognizing the next generation of problem-solvers who are learning how to identify real-world challenges, develop practical solutions, and navigate the authentic invention-to-market process.

From Classroom Concept to Licensed Product

One of the most powerful outcomes of the Innovation Science Class is seeing students go beyond prototypes and competitions and into actual licensing success. Over the past two years, multiple middle school teams have done exactly that after participating in Inventionland Education’s national programs.

In 2024, Grove City Middle School students Mia and Madison reached an extraordinary milestone with their invention, the No Cry Hair Tie. Designed to solve a common daily frustration, their invention was developed using Inventionland’s real-world 9-step inventing method, a process used by professional inventors and entrepreneurs.

With the guidance of their teachers, Ms. Karen Garland and Mr. Ben English, Mia and Madison not only won at the national level. They also secured a licensing agreement. Their product has since been brought to market and is now available on major online retail platforms, proving that student-led innovation can compete in the global marketplace.

A New Generation of Shoelace Solutions

Building on that momentum, National Inventors Day 2026 celebrates another success story from Grove City Middle School. This year, Olivia Adams and Samantha Preist earned 1st Place in the Middle School Division of the National Invention Contest with their invention, The Untie Not, and followed it with their own licensing agreement.

“The Untie Not” addresses a frustration nearly everyone has experienced: shoelaces that won’t stay tied. Olivia and Samantha engineered a small, lightweight device that attaches directly to shoelaces and securely holds knots in place. The solution requires no shoe modifications or complicated adjustments and works seamlessly for students, athletes, and people constantly on the move.

Their invention is currently in final development and is scheduled to debut on the international marketplace later this year, an incredible achievement for inventors still years away from high school graduation.

Why National Inventors Day Matters in Schools

These success stories highlight what happens when students are taught how to invent, not just how to brainstorm ideas. National Inventors Day is a reminder that invention is a skill set, one that can be taught, practiced, and refined in K–12 classrooms when students are given the right tools, structure, and encouragement.

Through the Inventionland Education Innovation Science curriculum, students learn to:

• Identify everyday problems worth solving
• Develop and test functional prototypes
• Understand marketability and user needs
• Pitch ideas with confidence
• Experience real-world invention pathways, such as licensing their product

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Inventors Today

On this National Inventors Day, we celebrate Mia, Madison, Olivia, Samantha, their dedicated educators, and the schools that believe in empowering students as creators.

Their stories prove that when students are given authentic innovation experiences, they don’t just learn about innovation; they experience it. And, they become inventors.

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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 >

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Students learn best when they solve real problems and create things that matter. The Innovation Science class from Inventionland Education prepares students for life beyond the classroom by teaching them how to invent and innovate using the same proven 9-Step Method Inventionland uses with its corporate partners and individual inventor clients.

This is not a theoretical exercise. Students work in small groups to create their own invention or innovation in a student-driven, teacher-facilitated flipped classroom. It creates a level of engagement rarely seen in other classes since the ideas come directly from the students.

The Inventionland Education course is offered for elementary, middle, and high school students.

As students work on their ideas, they learn to research, prototype, package, and present them to a panel of judges at the end of the course.

Student groups who win at the school level can present at the national invention contest hosted by Inventionland at its corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, with both in-person and virtual presentation options.

The 2025 national invention contest was recently featured on the Discovery and Science channels through the four-time Telly award-winning show “Tomorrow’s World Today.”

In addition to learning highly sought-after soft skills valued by employees, students are energized by their own ideas, leading to remarkable outcomes.

For example, two students from Grove City Middle School in Pennsylvania created the No Cry Hair Tie and now have an actual licensing agreement. Their product is available on Amazon and national retail websites.

Similarly, a group of students from Jordan created the Amazing Lid, which has its own licensing agreement and has been a strong seller on Amazon and other world-class websites.

And there are two other student products in the final stages of product development that also earned licensing agreements after the 2025 national invention contest. You’ll see their products hit the market in 2026.

For students, these experiences create meaningful advantages.

When applying to colleges, students can write essays that go beyond clubs and coursework. They can describe how they applied a professional inventing process, collaborated with peers, overcame setbacks, and created products that not only earned a licensing agreement but are also available for purchase globally.

In job or internship interviews, students can speak confidently about their problem-solving and communication skills, which are highly valued by employers across industries.

Students learn that innovation requires testing ideas, learning from failure, and improving with purpose.

By engaging students in authentic invention work, Inventionland Education helps them build experiences that stand out and skills that last. Students are not just learning about innovation. More importantly, they are proving they can do it.

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Inventionland Education was honored to serve as a sponsor of the 53rd Annual National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Conference in Chicago, an event that brought together visionary educators, district leaders, and advocates from across the country to advance equity, innovation, and excellence in education.

As part of the conference’s pre-conference motor coach tour, NABSE attendees had the opportunity to visit one of the region’s most inspiring examples of immersive learning design: the new Innovation Center at Lincoln Elementary District 156 in Calumet City, Illinois. The Innovation Center was featured as a model for how thoughtfully designed, immersive environments can profoundly impact deep STEAM learning for students in grades K–8.

The tour resulted in a powerful two-minute video capturing educators from across the nation as they explored the Innovation Center firsthand, engaging with the space, asking questions, and envisioning how similar environments could transform learning in their own districts. The visit was led by Dr. Anita Rice, Superintendent of Lincoln Elementary District 156, whose leadership and vision were instrumental in bringing the Innovation Center to life.

Under Dr. Rice’s guidance, the district reimagined and repurposed old and outdated district office space, transforming it into a vibrant Innovation Center that now serves as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and applied problem-solving. The space reflects Inventionland Education’s belief that environment matters, and that when students are immersed in inspiring, real-world learning settings, curiosity deepens and engagement soars.

The response from NABSE educators reinforced a core principle of Inventionland Education’s work nationwide: immersive environments are not just visually compelling. They are catalysts for meaningful, future-ready learning. We are proud to partner with forward-thinking districts like Lincoln Elementary District 156 and to support NABSE’s mission of empowering educators and students through innovation.

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Inventionland Education was honored to be featured in the premiere episode of TWT Report on the Discovery Channel, a new series from the award-winning producers of Tomorrow’s World Today. The program highlights organizations that are shaping the future through innovation, and Inventionland Education’s inclusion places a national spotlight on how immersive learning environments are transforming K–12 education.

For educators and school administrators considering renovations, new school construction, or the development of STEM and innovation centers, this segment offers timely inspiration. The episode showcases how

 Inventionland Education works alongside districts to reimagine outdated classrooms, libraries, and underutilized spaces into dynamic Innovation Labs® that support hands-on learning, creativity, and real-world problem solving. Rather than focusing solely on equipment, the segment emphasizes intentional design and spaces that align curriculum, pedagogy, and physical environment to drive deeper student engagement.

As districts plan capital improvements, bond initiatives, or phased renovations, the Inventionland Education feature demonstrates what is possible when learning environments are designed around how students actually learn best. The segment highlights flexible spaces that support STEM, STEAM, career exploration, and interdisciplinary instruction, while also serving as hubs for collaboration, professional learning, and community pride.

Being featured on the Discovery Channel underscores the growing national recognition of immersive, experiential education as a critical component of future-ready schools. For administrators navigating questions around return on investment, student engagement, and long-term relevance, the episode provides real-world context for how innovative design can elevate both teaching and learning outcomes.

We invite educators, superintendents, principals, and facilities leaders to stream the TWT Report premiere on the Discovery Channel. If you would like to jump directly to the segment featuring Inventionland Education, it begins at 12:30. It’s a compelling look at how thoughtful learning-space design can play a central role in shaping the next generation of innovators.

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American Education Week, celebrated November 17–21, honors the incredible work of educators and the transformative power of learning in communities across the country. It’s a moment to recognize not only what schools accomplish today but how they prepare students for tomorrow. That future-focused mission is at the heart of Inventionland Education, a leader in Innovation Science, applied STEM, immersive Innovation Labs®, and real-world career exploration for K–12 students.

Bringing Learning to Life Through Innovation Labs®

Inventionland Education’s award-winning Innovation Labs spark imagination the second students walk through the door. These immersive environments, ranging from tech-driven maker spaces to CTE environments and career exploration areas, transform traditional schools into vibrant hubs of creativity.

But the magic extends far beyond aesthetics. Inside each Innovation Lab, students engage in hands-on design, invention, and problem-solving. They learn to collaborate, think critically, test prototypes, and pitch ideas, mirroring the real-world processes of engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs. For schools celebrating American Education Week, Innovation Labs offer a powerful example of how physical learning spaces can inspire deeper engagement and prepare students with skills they’ll use for life.

Innovation Science: Career Exploration Leveraging Applied STEM

At the center of each lab is Inventionland Education’s Innovation Science curriculum, which guides elementary, middle, and high school learners through a step-by-step process for invention and innovation. Students don’t simply read about careers; they experience them.

Through projects aligned with the scientific method, but with an entrepreneurial emphasis, the curriculum connects engineering, product design, environmental science, digital media, business, and more. Students see firsthand how classroom concepts translate into meaningful future pathways. They explore careers early, build confidence as creators, and understand how their passions can evolve into professional opportunities.

This early exposure is essential to career readiness, helping students make informed decisions in high school, college, and beyond.

Professional Learning That Empowers Educators

American Education Week also celebrates teachers, and Inventionland Education is committed to supporting them every step of the way. The organization’s professional learning experiences equip educators with the skills, tools, and confidence to facilitate hands-on innovation and the use of maker machines in their classrooms.

Teachers learn how to guide students through design challenges, encourage entrepreneurial thinking, and create inclusive environments where every child feels empowered to try, fail, improve, and succeed.

Invention Contests That Build Real-World Skills

Inventionland Education’s national invention contests bring authentic innovation to life. Students develop products, create prototypes, pitch ideas, and showcase their creativity, gaining valuable communication and problem-solving abilities essential for future careers. The 2025 Invention Contest was featured on the Science and Discovery Channels through the Telly award-winning TV show “Tomorrow’s World Today.”  You can stream the world premiere of Inventionland Education here.

A Future-Ready Vision for K–12 Education

As schools celebrate American Education Week, Inventionland Education stands as a partner committed to helping schools and districts prepare students for a changing world. Through Innovation Labs, Innovation Science, professional learning, and invention contests, they inspire students to dream big and equip them with the skills to turn those dreams into careers.

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Viewers across the nation tuned in to the Discovery and Science Channels for something truly special: the premiere of Inventionland Education on the award-winning television series Tomorrow’s World Today. The program, which has earned four prestigious Telly Awards, is known for showcasing groundbreaking innovation, creativity, and discovery. Now, it shines the spotlight on the incredible students, educators, and staff who power Inventionland Education’s mission.

A Celebration of Student Innovation

The featured segment highlights Inventionland Education’s 2025 Invention Contest, a national event that brings together some of the brightest and most imaginative young minds. Students who have won their local school competitions earn the opportunity to pitch their inventions at Inventionland’s world headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA.

This capstone event is more than just a contest. It’s the culmination of months of creativity, hard work, and learning. The students face the exciting challenge of presenting their ideas to a panel of judges, who evaluate ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and presentation abilities. Supported by teachers, parents, and the Inventionland Education team, these students gain invaluable real-world experience that will serve them for years to come.

Middle School Division Winners

1st Place: “The Untie Not”

• Created by: Olivia Adams and Samantha Preist, Grove City Middle School (Grove City Area School District)

• Product Description: A simple solution for shoes that come untied. A small mechanism attaches to the shoelaces to keep the knot securely in Place.

2nd Place: “Need Guard”

• Created by: Ethan Cooke, Elijah Lawson, and Gavin Purdy, Grove City Middle School (Grove City Area School District)

• Product Description: The Needle Guard prevents losing the pump needle for sports balls and helps keep it from breaking.

3rd Place: “Crayon Cast”

• Created by: Abby Borsa, Maggie Paxton, and Kinsley Elkins, Neil Armstrong Middle School (Bethel Park School District)

• Product Description: A clever “cast” for crayons designed to prevent breakage and make them last longer.

The Science of Invention in Action

At the heart of this event is Inventionland Education’s Science of Invention curriculum. This program goes beyond textbooks, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore invention and problem-solving in a way that mirrors real-world innovation. Through this approach, learners develop not only technical skills but also creativity, resilience, and teamwork.

The contest perfectly embodies the mission of Inventionland Education: to inspire a new generation of inventors and innovators. By encouraging students to dream big and pursue their ideas, the curriculum helps prepare them for future careers in engineering, design, entrepreneurship, and beyond.

Inside Tomorrow’s World Today

Now in its ninth season, Tomorrow’s World Today continues to explore the worlds of inspiration, creation, innovation, and production. Past episodes have featured global leaders in science and industry, including NASA, Toyota, Caterpillar, and U.S. Steel. By featuring Inventionland Education, the program underscores the importance of cultivating innovation at the earliest stages of learning.

Viewers not only see the excitement of the competition unfold but also gain insight into how applied STEM education nurtures imagination and equips students with the skills to tackle real-world challenges.

Stream the Episode Now

The premiere aired Saturday, August 30th, at 10 A.M. on the Science Channel, followed by an encore presentation on Sunday, September 28th, 2025, at 8:30 A.M. on the Discovery Channel. The episode has since become one of the most-watched installments of the four-time Telly Award-winning Tomorrow’s World Today, inspiring audiences nationwide.

For those who missed the broadcasts, the full episode is also available for streaming on YouTube, giving educators, students, and families a front-row seat to the next generation of inventors in action.

This premiere was more than a television segment; it was a national stage for students to showcase their creativity and celebrate education that inspires invention. It reminds us what’s possible when young minds are empowered to innovate.

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