​Palos 118 Students Take Home Awards at 2025 Young Inventor Challenge

Students from Palos School District 118 took home five awards at the 2025 Young Inventor Challenge held in Rosemont in November.

The fourth-grade students in the Accelerated Learning Program at Palos East and Palos West Elementary Schools participated in the competition in the junior (K - 4th grade) junior division and won awards in 5 of 6 categories.

This year’s winners included Tansey Hendrickson who won Best Pitch for her game Ready, Set, ....GOAT! Eleanor Wyskiel who won in the Most Innovative category for her game Dog Gone; Leo Valionis and Brayden Weith won Most Original for their game Shipwreck; Truman Pack’s game Toilet Torture was named Most Marketable; and Evan Lindo won Best Potential for his game Cat Wars.

Palos 118 Alum, Tiggy Sliwinski, served as guest speaker during the award ceremony. She is currently in her second year of studying industrial design at the University of Cincinnati.

The Young Inventor Challenge provides an opportunity for students ages 6 to18 to develop and pitch their original inventions to toy and game companies and other industry professionals.

The students developed their toys and games as part of the District’s Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) which is taught by Palos East Elementary teacher Julie McNamara and Palos West Elementary teacher Erin Gocke.

Both teachers remarked that their students’ participation in the Young Inventor Challenge is an invaluable learning experience as they get a chance to take an original idea and develop it into a working game. They said that the game challenge reinforces practices such as critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and leadership which they note are key skills for future success.

Palos East Elementary ALPS teacher Julie McNamara said that creating a new game isn’t an easy undertaking but each year she sees students rise to the challenge.

“When they pursue their interests and put their hearts into a project, success follows naturally,” said Mrs. McNamara, adding, “I’m very proud of the creativity and perseverance each student demonstrated, and I’d like to especially congratulate the winners on their achievement.”

Palos West ALPS teacher Erin Gocke said it was inspiring to see the dedication students brought to the game development process and watching their projects evolve over the course of the school year.

“I am incredibly proud of our students for their perseverance and creativity throughout the Young Inventor’s Challenge and seeing them demonstrate remarkable courage as they pitched their ideas to the judges,” said Mrs. Gocke.

Photo: This year’s Young Inventor Winners from Palos School District 118 were (Left-Right) Evan Lindo, Truman Pack, Leo Valionis, Brayden Weith, Tansey Hendrickson, and Eleanor Wyskiel. (Photo Credit: Palos 118)