Microsoft New England has been a proud supporter of the CT Invention Convention (CIC) for almost 20 years. The CIC is the nation’s oldest continuously operating children’s invention competition, beginning in the 1983-1984 school year, with an estimated 300,000 children experiencing local CIC invention programs. Annually, more than 10,000 students in grades K-8 across Connecticut from over 200 Connecticut schools take part in the CIC learning curriculum. The CIC is funded by grants and in-kind support from community, academic, and business institutions.
This year’s event was held at the UConn Gampel Pavilion on Saturday, April 30. Microsoft continued its sponsorship of this convention including awarding six accessibility awards, in which we honored the best inventions enabling improved lifestyles, living, or access the disabled community. The accessibility award winners are invited to the West Farms Mall retail store to celebrate their inventions. In addition to the six special awards, Microsoft gifted each inventor with a technology prize and had employees judge the competition.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Microsoft Accessibility Awards
Best invention enabling improved lifestyles, living, or access to anything by the disabled
- Ashlee Alves, Cross Street Intermediate School, Naugatuck | Magno Belt
- Julia Helal, Fishers Island School, Mystic | Safety Stairs
- Audrey H. Larson, Dag Hammarskjold Middle School, Wallingford | SEAT Safe Emergency Assistive Technology
- Preston McNulty-Socha, CREC University of Hartford, Hartford | Bat Hat Smart Eyes
- Lucca Riccio, Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School, Southington | Message Mask
- Andy Wu, Talcott Mountain Academy, Avon | Mag-Knitz