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Program
Gates Invention & Innovation Program

Competition Day

Over 20 Years of Gates Innovation

2022 Dates

List of 3 items.

  • Invention Expo

    March 3, 2022
    1-3pm


  • Finalist Presentations

    Friday, March 4, 2022

  • Awards Ceremony

    Friday, March 4, 2022

Competition Day

At the expo, students are prepared to display and discuss their hard work from start to finish.

List of 3 items.

  • Judging Process

    1. At the expo, judges speak with each inventor to evaluate the entries before selecting 10-15 finalists.
    2. The following day, finalists make individual presentations to the panel of judges using additional support material such as slide presentations to describe their invention and process in more detail.
    3. Judges sequester to determine the contest winners.
    Cash awards up to $500 are given in both the Grades 5/6 and Grades 7/8 categories.

  • Criteria

    All entries are judged on four criteria:
    • Functionality
    • Creativity
    • Marketability
    • Clarity of Communication

  • Patent Support

    In exceptional cases, judges may award a "patent nod" to a particular invention. Those projects receive additional funding for more in-depth research, design and guidance through the patent process.

2022 Competition Results

Grades 5/6
1st: Jacob B. - Fingerprint Locker
2nd: Jasiya W. -  The Sweep-Skate
3rd: Desi B. and Pano B.  -  The Safe Tip

5/6 Finalist:
Roby K. & Rory N.  -  Eye of the Fly
Iris P. & Jillian Z.  -  Happy Feeder
Laine F. & Brynn A.   -  The Brush Rush
 
Grades 7/8
1st: Koops L. & Josh W. -  Wheelable
2nd: Aiden F. and William R.  -  Scoop and Salt
3rd: Luke Z. - Gates Innovation Ordering on Amazon

7/8 Finalist:
Gina G. & Emma H. -  3 in 1 Marker
Mark P. & William W. -  Confess Your Stress
Olivia S. -  Hundo Laundo
 
 

Competition Day Judges

  • Ken Parks

    Ken Parks is currently serves as global vice president of engineering and technology for the Victaulic Corporation. He previously served as an engineering and technical consultant for Arcadia Group International and the senior vice president of engineering/research and development for the Gates Corporation. 
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  • Susan M Majka, PhD

    Susan M Majka, PhD, is a professor at National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and an internationally renowned expert on lung vascular progenitor cells in health and disease. 
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  • Steven Chalmers

    Steven Chalmers is a dedicated and prolific tinkerer, and the inventor of a unique cat drinking fountain called the AquaPurr.
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  • Jake Dresden

    Jake Dresden is director of outreach and development for A Little Help, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of lives for seniors.
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  • Adam Wilson

    Adam Wilson is a Colorado native who grew up obsessed with all things robot. He’s the co-founder and former chief creative officer at Sphero, headquartered in Boulder. He has a degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Northern Colorado. 
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Graland Country Day School

55 Clermont Street    |    Denver, CO 80220    |    303-399-0390
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1924, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.