When 4th grader Taylin Damrow from Treynor Elementary School walked into the 2025 Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in Michigan this past June, she wasn’t just representing her school—she was representing what’s possible when young students are given the opportunity to explore creative thinking and real-world problem solving through invention education.
Taylin’s invention, the PB&J Fresh Your Way—a two-part syringe designed to simplify spreading peanut butter and jelly—earned her a spot at the national competition after being named a GOLDEN TICKET winner at the Iowa Invention Convention state event in April 2025. While she didn’t bring home a national award, what she did take home was something far more valuable: an unforgettable experience that sparked curiosity, built confidence, and connected her with other young inventors from across the country.
“Attending Invention Convention U.S. Nationals was a fun experience,” Taylin shared. “I learned about others' inventions and met people from around the country. I got to ride in a Model T, visit the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, and even explored the house the Wright brothers grew up in. I didn’t win any awards, but I had a lot of fun with friends.”
Treynor Elementary School echoed the importance of the experience itself over the outcome:
“This was such an honor for our community to be represented by Taylin. It shows that we are raising and educating our students to look at things well beyond the win. The experiences they encounter are just as important.”
Taylin’s story is more than a celebration—it's a call to action. Invention education is not about trophies; it's about preparing students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Programs like the Iowa Invention Convention empower students as early as elementary school to think critically, find problems worth solving, and communicate their ideas with confidence.
Get Involved: Join Us This Fall
If you're an Iowa educator, invention coach, or homeschool parent looking to bring this kind of experience to your students, now is the time to get started. We’re inviting educators across Iowa to take the first step toward integrating invention education into their teaching by attending this upcoming training. This hands-on day will give educators everything needed to launch invention with no prior experience necessary.
Sprint to Invent Professional Development
Date: Friday, Oct. 24
Time: 9a.m.–4p.m.
Location: In person in Iowa City, IA
Register at: https://jacobsoninstitute.org/form/iowa-invention-convention-profes
Taylin’s success didn’t happen by accident.
It happened because a school community made space for creative thinking and real-world problem solving. Your students are capable of this too—with your support.
The Iowa Invention Convention is brought to you by the Jacobson Institute, the K–12 outreach arm of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa. Now, this program is open to all K–12 students across Iowa. With no cost to schools, the program makes it possible for any educator or parent with a passion for creativity and innovation to help students begin their own invention journeys.
For more information about the Iowa Invention Convention or how to participate, visit iowainventionconvention.org.
