Zack Tarle - Grade 7 - Akron, OH - Spyder

[My father and I] came up with a game, which combines rubber bands, marbles and a playing board. The game board is in the shape of a square. Outlining the board is a wall of rubber bands. It has four holes in the corners and one in the center. Around each hole are two motes and around the game board are tons of small holes arranged geometrically where you can stick pegs. We revised and redesigned many times and developed marble shooters as well. Spyder is a very flexible game. There are many different ways to play for all ages ranging from easy to advanced.

Katylin Sweeney - Grade 5 - Cincinnati, OH - Stretcherella

Rubber bands are the perfect metaphor for becoming your best self; they stretch to reach their full potential but always remember their original shape. Said more simply, I believe you should stretch to reach your dreams but remember who you are! Spreading this message is Stretcherella’s mission. I created her so together we could make this statement to the world in a very memorable way. Stretcherella is covered in rubber bands. They are perfect because they are a significant symbol in the overall meaning. Stretcherella is meant to be an inspiration, an unforgettable image that pulls at your heart and urges you to stretch for whatever you dream of but still be yourself.

Emma Studer - Grade 8 - Bloomville, OH - Hooves High

My invention was inspired by my passion of working with and training horses. One way I need to train my horse is to get him to lift his feet. Hooves High helps horses lift their hooves over boards. During training, a trainer usually has to reset the board if it falls over manually. The advantage of using Hooves High is that the board resets itself instead of the trainer having to reset it. As a result, the trainer can spend more time training and teaching the horse instead of using time to reset the board. Hooves High uses rubber bands because when the board gets hit, the rubber band stretches and pulls the board back in place.

Andrew Pelham - Grade 5 - Brentwood, TN - E-Z Baby Saver

According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, 38 children die every year when parents leave them in cars. My invention is designed to prevent a tragedy like this with a simple rubber band device. The device attaches to the back of the driver’s seat by looping a rubber band around a head rest or handle. When parents click a child in, they flip the E-Z Baby Saver to the front seat. Then, when parents get behind the wheel, they stretch the device across the door and hook it on the handle. When parents try to get out of the car, they can’t. The E-Z Baby Saver is a bright neon reminder that stops them in their tracks. It forces them to stop and ask, “Is my child strapped in the back?