Schools
South Brunswick 5th Graders Head To National Competition With Innovative Cane Device
The project stood out among over 300 entries submitted by student teams from the U.S. and across the globe.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – Five elementary school students from South Brunswick have developed a device to help people using a cane, earning them a spot in a prestigious national competition.
A team from Brunswick Acres Elementary School has been named a finalist in the 2025 Thomas Edison Pitch Contest, a nationwide competition challenging students in grades 4–12 to invent solutions to real-world problems. On Wednesday, they'll present their project on the national stage.
The team, "The Brunswick Acres Problem Solvers," comprises five fifth-grade students from the Gifted and Talented Program - Misheeta Agarwal, Shrey Desai, Ashar Kamal, Maggie Kipnis, and Savar Mistry.
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Their invention, called the "Obstacle Owl," is designed to attach to a white cane used by visually impaired individuals. The device emits a series of beeps as the user approaches obstacles in their path, helping them avoid potential collisions and injuries.
The students created the device using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, IDE Cloud for coding, and a 3D printer. They also developed a comprehensive business and marketing plan for their design, which they will present in a five-minute pitch to judges on May 14.
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"Can you believe this was all done by kids in grades 4–12?" said John Keegan, President of the Edison Innovation Foundation. "These students are taking real problems and turning them into real solutions. It's exactly the kind of thinking the world needs — and exactly what Edison would've encouraged."
The South Brunswick team earned its spot through months of hard work, creative thinking, and teamwork. Their project stood out among over 300 entries submitted by student teams from the United States and countries around the world.
Organized by the Edison Innovation Foundation, the Thomas Edison Pitch Contest is now in its 15th year and is designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and a love for STEM.
The final round of judging takes place this week at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The event is open to the public and will also be streaming live on Facebook.
To learn more, visit www.thomasedisonpitch.org.
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