Kansas City Invention Convention Returns April 11
The annual STEMIE competition presented by Linda Hall Library brings hundreds of KC area students together to present their unique inventions
Apr 02, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the region’s most anticipated STEMIE (STEM + Invention + Entrepreneurship) competitions returns this April. The 2024 Kansas City Invention Convention (KCIC), showcases our city’s brightest young inventors on April 11 in the Swinney Recreation Center at UMKC from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This April, more than 270 Kansas City area students from 12 schools are set to compete in the annual KCIC competition. Presented by Linda Hall Library, the event encourages Kansas City-area students grades 5 to 12 to develop their ideas into real inventions that people can use to solve everyday problems. Ahead of the event, KCIC provides participating educators with access to resources, workshops and mentors to guide their students through the invention process.
“KCIC provides educators and young inventors a student-led, project-based, entrepreneurial, approach for solving real-world problems,” said Matt Reeves, Linda Hall Library’s Public Program Manager. “It is truly inspiring to see so many of KC’s young students not only create practical inventions but show genuine excitement for STEM in their classrooms each day.”
The 2023 KCIC saw a record-breaking number of students compete and sent 7 KC-area students to the national Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan. Previous KCIC winners include Grayson Moyer for his 2023 invention, Stream Cooler, Isa Glover, Charlotte Hamilton and Gabriella Campbell for their 2023 invention, Spoiler Alert, Tyler Lively and Jackson Brueckner for their 2022 invention, MetaCar, and Kelly Ann Greene for her 2021 invention, Baby Saver, which won the Market Potential award at the U.S. national competition.
“These students are the future of the STEM industry here in Kansas City and around the country. At the Linda Hall Library, we are so grateful for the opportunity to fuel their passion through KCIC and help present these young inventors at the national level,” said Reeves.
The 2024 KCIC competition and invention showcase will be held at the Swinney Recreation Center at 5030 Holmes Street in Kansas City, Missouri on April 11. KCIC 2024 is only possible with the support of its generous sponsors, including title sponsor Kansas City National Security Campus, managed by Honeywell FM&T, Forvis, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the T-Serve Foundation For e-Giving Success, Walmart, the Harry Portman Charitable Trust and the Carter Community Memorial Trust.
About the Kansas City Invention Convention
KCIC is an interactive competition for Kansas City area students in grades 5 to 12 to come together to invent the future. The program provides access to resources, workshops, and mentors who will help students develop their ideas from concept to prototype. By participating in KCIC, students compete for cash prizes and a chance to compete at national and global invention convention competitions! Learn more at kcinvent.org.
About the Linda Hall Library
Since 1946, the Linda Hall Library has been amassing collections that have powered investigation, innovation, exploration and inspiration. Today, the Library is a leading independent research library widely known for the breadth and depth of its collections across 82 languages, its role as an international destination for scholarship and research, its support of teachers of the STEM curricula, and the vast resources it provides to learners of all ages interested in scientific exploration and discovery. Learn more at lindahall.org.