Blanchester students excel at Believe in Ohio state competition and celebration

On Saturday, April 29, more than 120 high school students from across the state were recognized for their ability to apply STEM and demonstrate commercial feasibility for new products, services and problem-based solutions.

The Believe in Ohio – State Competition and Celebration was hosted by the Kent State University Design & Innovation Hub. Seventy-three (73) students were awarded a total of $315,000 in scholarship awards to continue their post-secondary educations at any Ohio college, university or technical center.

Funded by the State of Ohio through the Department of Higher Education and operated as a program of The Ohio Academy of Science, Believe in Ohio is a student-focused STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program that prepares Ohio's future workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labor market and the innovation economy. The program emphasizes the importance of applying STEM and innovation to solve problems and how to create economic value through research and technological design.

The opening remarks and welcoming were provided by J.R. Campbell, Executive Director, Kent State DI Hub.

A keynote address was given by Garrett Hartley, Kent State Design & Innovation Fellow, and the CEO of Polyvolt Technologies. The event also included a live pitch competition and tours of the Kent State campus.

"This was such a great opportunity for the students to grow as innovators and the scholarships provide the pathways to Ohio's colleges, universities and technical centers" said Michael Woytek, Executive Director for The Ohio Academy of Science. "This experiential process provides students with a better understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset, and it allows them to purse post-secondary education and career development with a greater sense of purpose."

Area scholarship recipients include:

• $2,500 Pitch Scholarship Awardee: Gracie Roy, 11th grade, Blanchester High School in Clinton County, for plan The Hypoglycemia Steering Wheel Cover.

• $10,000 Scholarship Awardees: Taylor Baker, 11th grade, from Blanchester High School in Clinton County, for plan Light-Corrective Film.

• $5,000 Scholarship Awardee: Gracie Kaehler, 11th grade, from Blanchester High School in Clinton County for plan Brain Aneurysm Alert.

• $5,000 Scholarship Awardee: Gracie Roy, 11th grade, from Blanchester High School in Clinton County for plan The Hypoglycemia Steering Wheel Cover.

Believe in Ohio is a free, comprehensive, curriculum-based, STEM and Entrepreneurship program that supports both high school and middle school students. For more information, visit https://www.ohiosci.org.