Young Inventor Challenge Past Winners
2019
Best Game
Sponsored by Spin Master
$250 Scholarship Money, Tower of Games (provided by our sponsors), 3D Printed Action Figure
Junior:
Quinn Curran, 4th Grade, from Palos Heights, Illinois for Blindfolded Builder
Senior:
Diego Humberto Martínez and Dario Yañez, 9th Grade, from Monterrey, Mexico for Tic Tac Cubed
Best Playful Learning Concept
Sponsored by the Chicago Toy and Game Foundation
$250 Scholarship Money, Tower of Games (provided by our sponsors), 3D Printed Action Figure
Junior:
Mason Marable, 4th Grade, from Palos Park, Illinois and Cash Phillips, 4th Grade from Orland Park Illinois for NFL Battles
Senior:
Aashi Sinha, 8th grade, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin for Rescue Buddies
Most Creative Concept:
Sponsored by PlayMonster
$500 Scholarship Money, Tower of Games (provided by our sponsors), 3D Printed Action Figure
Junior:
Violet Kooyenga and Piper Sterling, 4th grade from Palos Park, Illinois for Beat the Bullies
Most Marketable Concept:
Sponsored by Pressman/Goliath
$250 Scholarship Money, Tower of Games (provided by our sponsors), 3D Printed Action Figure
Junior:
Addison Wiersma, 4th grade from Palos Heights, Illinois for Totally Chick
Senior:
Zoe Bain and Isabella Murch, 6th grade, from Fishers, Indian for House of Cards
Best Presentation:
Sponsored by Yulu and the Toy Association
2 night stay in NY, Presenter at the TOTY Awards and a tour of Toy Fair, $250 spending money and 3D Printed Action Figure
Junior:
Iliyan Shariff, 4th grade, from Chicago, Illinois for Cube World, the Board Game
Senior:
Eliana Lawrence, 9th grade, from Denver, Colorado for Firehawk
Kyle Levy and Robert Becker from Glencoe, Illinois for Barrier Battles
2018
GRAND PRIZE
Most Marketable Concept
(Sponsored by Target and Pressman Toys)
Cain Guerra, 4th grade, from Palos Park, Illinois for "Soup It"
Lily Brown from Alpine, Utah and Tait Hansen, 6th grade, from Evanston, Illinois for "Bet You Can’t"
Lyra Acosta, 5th grade, from Palos Hills, Illinois for "Hypnodizzy"
Most Outstanding Presentation
(Sponsored by The Genius of Play™, an initiative by The Toy Association)
Prince Nallamothula, 3rd grade, from Frisco, Texas for "The Happy Family Game" (Jr)
Riley Pritzlaff, 9th grade, from Cedar Park, TX for "Market on the Move" (Sr)
Best Playful Learning Concept
(Sponsored by LEGO Systems)
Noah Berg, 5th grade, from Chicago, Illinois for "GGEO" (Jr)
Sahaj Kasturi, 7th grade, from Reston, Virginia for "Battle of Four Armies" (Sr)
Best Ride-On or Wheeled Concept
(Sponsored by Razor USA)
Julia Moffett, 4th grade, from Palos Heights, Illinois for "Ski Shoes" (Jr)
Caleb, 10th grade, and Keegan, 9th grade, Southard from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for "Street Ray" (Sr)
Most Creative Concept
(Sponsored by PlayMonster Toys)
Analise Potsander, 2nd grade, from Goshen, Indiana for "Room Builder" (Jr)
Violet Peters, 6th grade, from South Yarmoth, Massachusetts for "Book It" (Sr)
Best Game Concept
(Sponsored by SpinMaster Toys)
Lucy Alford and Sarah Zaibak, 5th grade, from Palos Park, Illinois for "Fear the Frosting " (Jr)
Dabney, 9th grade, and William, 7th grade, Peters from South Yarmoth, Massachusetts for "Heroes of the Fray" (Sr)
2017
Most Outstanding Presentation (Mattel):
Tanush Doshi - Chase the Loot! (Chicago, IL) JR
Charlotte Jiru - Alicia Boop Insta-Boutique (Whittier, CA) SR
Best Pitch Video/Commercial (Spin Master):
Charlie Rosynek and Broderick Rosello - Balance Boat (Palos Heights, IL) JR
Liam Kivirist - Virtual Reality Colossal Chess (Browntown, WI) SR
Best Outdoor / Active Play Concept (Hasbro):
Noah Berg - RUINOWAZLIB (Chicago, IL) JR
Sampson Neyman - Exercise Challenge (Chicago, IL) JR
Best Educational Concept (LEGO):
Abhi Majumdar - Magnetic Marchers (Chicago, IL) JR
Dana Dimitriu - Puzzleletters (San Antonio, TX) SR
Most Creative Concept (PlayMonster):
Edie Piacenza - There’s a Poo on My Shoe! (Elmhurst, IL) JR
Tiggy Sliwinski - Draw-n to crime (Palos Hills, IL) SR
Most Marketable Concept (Pressman/Target):
Patrick Ready - Dino Can You Dig It? (Palos Heights, IL) JR
Ellie Skalla - Galactiquest (Oak Park, IL) SR
2016
Target and Pressman Grand Prize Winners:
Olivia Wasilewski and Brynna Siewers for Ship of Treasures
Junior Winner:
Tanush Doshi for Get Wow'd By Wild Kratts
Senior Winner:
Julia Herod and Jasmine Erikson for Feel to Find
Junior Runner Up:
Bella Narciso and John Pempek for Seastack
Senior Runner Up:
Kaori Ochoa Aoki for Just Word It
People's Choice:
Evelyn Dalton and Madeline Niemiec for Creativity Glue
2015
Senior Category Winner
Steven Huetteman
Junior Category Winner
Kedar Narayann
2014
Senior Category Winner
Julia Shoppach and Cara Wendt
Junior Category Winner
Kate Forden and Mikayla Hartunian
2013
Senior Category Winner
Nathan Sun
Junior Category Winner
Dora Ivkovich
2012
Senior Category Winners
Charlie Davis and Ethan Hawker
Junior Category Winners
Bryce Wiersmaand Walker Ahluwalia
2011
Senior Category Winner
Nick Metzler
Junior Category Winner
Isabella Miller and Simon Shifrin
2010
Senior Category Winner
Nick Metzler
Junior Category Winner
Adrik Herbert
2009
Winner
Isabella Miller and Madison Yang
2008
Senior Category Winner
Joe Basile
Junior Category Winner
Hannah Allen and Ella Lambert
2007
Winner
Lenny Brahin
