Adelyn Wilson, left, and Allie Johnston of Phillip Latendresse Elementary School in Baraga took home first place honors in two categories at the state-level Invention Convention, advancing them to nationals in June. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Wilson via the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)

BARAGA — Two students from Phillip Latendresse Elementary School in Baraga have qualified invited to participate in the Invention Convention National Competition next month in downstate Dearborn. Adelyn Wilson and Allie Johnston’s project, “Magic Footsteps,” was presented in the state Invention Convention competition in April also in Dearborn. The students received first place honors in the Sports and Games category, as well as in Design and Building.

According to third grade teacher, Lisa Wilson, the idea for the invention developed through the girls’ love of basketball. The design is simple — a footprint decal yoga mat and some sensors.

“They both love the game of basketball so they chose a project that would help them become better basketball players,” Wilson said. “The mat is designed to help young players use proper footwork for basketball lay-ups.”

Wilson said the design went through three prototype stages. There were improvements made at each stage and they are still in design processes for future improvements.

“The first design was made from just paper. However, they realized that it was too slippery and easily ripped when they tested it in the gym,” she said. “So, they designed another prototype using a yoga mat. The mat worked much better.”

According to Wilson, both students received a full scholarship to cover expenses to travel back to Dearborn for the national competition.

The state honorees qualified for the state competition through Michigan Technological University’s Engineering, Growth, Development and Engagement (EDGE) program which hosgted the regional InventCon. According to EDGE Director, Tom Oliver, four students made the trek to Dearborn for the state competition.

Among the students who presented were Corbin Anderson with “Snowmobile Pull Jacket,” Audrey Bratt with “Click Cover” and the top-finishers, Wilson and Johnston with “Magic Footsteps.”

Oliver said it’s important to foster these environments for young engineers to showcase their skills. “We encounter things every day and we come up with solutions to those problems,” he said. “At its most basic, that’s what engineering is.”

The national competition will take place at the Henry Ford Museum from June 3-5. According to Oliver, this is the first time any U.P. students havd advanced to the national competition.

“”If you look at failure as a step in the process, that helps to teach people not to give up when they fail at something,” he said. “Having that mindset really makes for encouraging people to be successful.”