10-03-2025
MTSU Mondays: Young students at invention convention, regional science olympiad
Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.
Excitement was abundant in Middle Tennessee State University's Student Union Ballroom recently as eager elementary schoolers from around the region pitched products to judges that darted from presentation to presentation.
An annual event, the Tennessee Invention Convention hosted by MTSU's College of Education has cultivated the minds of young Tennesseans for over 30 years.
The convention allows elementary and middle school students to show their creativity and problem-solving. Originally a one-day experience for fourth through sixth grade, the program has expanded to a two-day showcase for fourth through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth grade, respectively.
But the first day of this year's convention for middle schoolers was canceled due to weather and has been rescheduled for March 27.
Led by MTSU education professor Tracey Huddleston, the convention brought together more than 400 fourth and fifth grade students. Almost 300 inventions were on show for judges and other participants.
'Nearly all of the students along with their parents and teachers were able to attend. It was a wonderful time for everyone,' said Huddleston.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in front of tri-fold posters, students advertised their inventions to anyone who roamed around the ballroom. The pitches were effortless, group members finishing each other's lines in a manner that only comes from practice and preparation.
Ashlee Barnes, a fourth-grade teacher with Black Fox Elementary School in Murfreesboro, brought 11 students to the competition. This is Barnes' second time attending the convention, but her first time with Black Fox.
Her students faced trial and error during the invention process, with many products already existing.
'It was really cool to see that everyone was able to come up with something and get excited about it,' said Barnes.
She noted that her students had grown confident throughout the process that led up to the final presentation and showcase.
The convention featured two categories: Game or Make Life Easier. Judges were assigned a category and grade level to judge, using a number system to rank each product. Inventions were required to fit the criteria for one of the categories to be eligible for the awards handed out at the end of the convention.
Scott McDaniel, an MTSU University Studies professor, was a judge for the fifth grade game category. He had never heard of the convention and was excited to take part in judging.
'I can see how much effort they put in, and how excited they are about their game,' said McDaniel.
The Tennessee Invention Convention is a regional event that sends winners to the national invention convention. This year's national competition will be held in Michigan at the beginning of June.
Williamson County's Page Middle School and Ravenwood High School won their respective divisions in the recent 2025 Regional Science Olympiad held recently at MTSU.
Ravenwood's team, from Brentwood, finished ahead of Central Magnet (Murfreesboro), Hume-Fogg Academic (Nashville) and Page (Franklin), with all four advancing to the state tournament Saturday, April 5, at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Page, second-place Rossville (Clarksville), Davidson County Homeschool (Nashville), Siegel (Murfreesboro) and Smyrna advanced to the middle school state tournament April 5 in Knoxville.
The tournaments drew 25 teams and a combined 350 students to the annual event, held in MTSU's Science Building, Davis Science Building, Wiser-Patten Science Hall and McWherter Learning Resources Center. It was organized by the Tennessee STEM Education Center staff for the second year.
Science Olympiad is a team competition where students in both divisions participate in 23 events related to various fields of science.
The budding scientists learned teamwork and principles of STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — during the all-day event that featured middle school activities like 'Mission Possible,' 'Potions and Poisons,' 'Air Trajectory' and 'Wind Power'
and high school challenges that included 'Dynamic Planet,' 'Microbe Mission,' 'Disease Detectives' and 'Bungee Drop.'
'Everything went fantastic,' said Kevin Ragland, a Tennessee STEM Education Center assistant director. 'All the events went off without a problem. The coaches, students and event supervisors were pleased.'
More than 70 volunteers, including MTSU students and faculty, six Nissan engineers and three from Ultium Cells LLC, a battery manufacturer in Spring Hill, assisted with the event.
MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Young students at invention convention, regional science olympiad
