By Randy Trammell

More than 100 second-grade through middle school students participated in the South Georgia Regional “Innovation Day” on February 20, presenting their inventions as a part of Georgia Tech’s K-12 InVenture Prize competition.

The K-12 InVenture Prize Competition at Georgia Tech’s College of Lifetime Learning challenges students to identify real-world problems and design novel solutions through analysis, creativity, and the scientific method.

The Thomasville student inventors presented their projects to a panel of judges in hopes of advancing to the State Finals in Atlanta on March 11.

Some of the 44 student team inventions included an innovative tool for cleaning chicken coops, a device that filters away cigarette smoke, a unique design for baby pajamas, and an app that allows individuals to track stray pets.

The event was hosted by Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) and held at Thomas County Academy in the Sherman B. Hall Gymnasium in Thomasville. Community leaders from local businesses judged the projects and presented awards.

“Our work in the Southwest Georgia community keeps expanding through our partnerships with local schools, Southern Regional Technical College, and the Georgia AIM Grant,” said Danyelle Larkin, director of the K-12 InVenture Prize. “We are reaching more and more students in Southwest Georgia and southern parts of Georgia, bringing Georgia Tech to Thomasville and nearby communities to expand innovation, AI, and manufacturing education.”

There were so many eager teachers and students wanting to participate in this year’s K-12 InVenture Prize “Innovation Day” that two schools hosted their own qualifying competitions in order to advance to the regional competition in South Georgia.

“‘Innovation Day’ has grown not just in size but in impact. The quality of student projects and the level of community involvement continue to rise each year,” said Candace Christian, SRTC’s education outreach coordinator. “This event brings together education, industry, and community partners to support student innovation and real-world problem-solving. It’s become a powerful reflection of the talent in our region,” she said. “The most special part was seeing students confidently present their ideas and truly own their work. Their passion and creativity were inspiring.”