By Natalia Rodriguez
Abigail Said, 13, keeps her family in mind while creating. This year, the Aptos Junior High student was awarded the Big Thinker Award at the California State Invention Convention, for her creation, “Deaf Alert.”
Abigail Said
This is the 9th year of bringing young minds together through applied problem-solving. The invention convention seeks to bring invention education to California schools and encourage entrepreneurship with the statewide event.
The first convention was held in 2017, in our local Santa Cruz, with 55 inventors. Now, due to the continued growth, there are two conventions one for North and Central California, the other for South.
This was Abigail’s 4th year competing. She was introduced through her mother, Rebecca, who works at Bradley Elementary School. When the school embarked on invention education, she knew Abigail had the mind to participate.
Her previous inventions include an ice pack beanie for migraines, to help her mother. An app to assist people with ADHD, for her sister. This year was no different; her Aunt Jackie, who is deaf, inspired her.
On a recent camping trip, Abigail wondered how her aunt could attend to her crying child if she couldn’t hear the cries.
With the mind of an inventor, she knew what she had to do.
The invention cost her around $50; with her dad’s help, they used spare parts from around the house. For the first attempt she tried to use a baby monitor but it was too small, so they decided on an electrical box. The electrical box is wirelessly connected to a bracelet that lights up when detecting noise from a crying child. Besides some assistance with electrical issues, she did it all on her own.
When asked how long the production took, Abigail casually remarked, “About a week, it was last minute.”
She was not the only local representative at the state convention.
Three students from Santa Cruz Country were recognized as 2024 top award winners. Maya Gammino and Piper Sipila from Main Street Elementary School in Soquel, earned the Marlin/Gessler Award for Teamwork, with their invention: “Beach Saver”. Carla Alcocer from Ceiba College Preparatory Academy in Watsonville received the Girls Inventing the Future award for her invention: “WeatherMeUp”
Since its humble beginnings in Santa Cruz the California Invention Convention continues to showcase the inspiring problem-solving abilities of today’s youth.