The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) proudly joined efforts to support student participation in the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Invention Convention, a statewide competition designed to foster innovation, problem-solving, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The competition began in the Fall of 2024, when students across Pennsylvania engaged in the invention process—identifying problems, developing prototypes, refining designs, and preparing to present their ideas.
In December 2024, a virtual qualifying round was held, with over 200 projects submitted for consideration at the state level, including student inventors from Muhlenberg School District, Oley Valley School District, Reading School District, Schuylkill Valley School District, Twin Valley School District, and Wyomissing Area School District.
From this highly competitive pool, 60 teams were selected to advance. Among them, teams from Muhlenberg, Schuylkill Valley, Oley Valley, and Reading had standout projects that earned invitations to the state-level competition.
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, these teams competed at the statewide Pennsylvania Invention Convention at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA, where they presented their innovations to a panel of judges consisting of industry professionals and educators. Following this event, a select group of top-performing inventors will move on to the National Invention Convention in Michigan this June, where they will compete against inventors from across the country.
The Pennsylvania Invention Convention is made possible through the leadership and dedication of K-12 educators, administrators, and STEM advocates statewide. Kendy Schiffert, Program Administrator, and Jillian Darlington, Assistant Program Administrator, from the BCIU Office of Professional Learning, served on the PA Invention Convention leadership team, along with representatives from Appalachia IU 8 and ARIN IU 28. From coordinating virtual judges to planning and facilitating the state-level in-person event, the goal was to ensure students had access to this outstanding opportunity and a positive experience through the competition phases.
Looking ahead, the Berks County Intermediate Unit plans to host a Pennsylvania Invention Convention for the 2025-2026 school year, further expanding hands-on STEM learning opportunities for students. For more information about the Pennsylvania Invention Convention and future participation opportunities, please contact Jillian Darlington at jildar@berksiu.org or Kendy Schiffert at kensch@berksiu.org.