A Cinnaminson High School student uses a ChompSaw at the district’s 41st Invention Convention on March 3.
The sense of pride inside the Cinnaminson High School gymnasium was strong on March 3, during the 41st year of the Elaine Mendelow Invention Convention.
Some 89 inventions from across the school district were on display, and as students pitched their inventions to the judging panel, that sense of pride poured through each presentation. During a walk through, school Superintendent Stephen Cappello could not help but express his pride of the history of the Invention Convention.
“There’s not enough things where we get to bring students together from all four schools,” he said. “We have our youngest little learners all the way up to through our college-facing seniors, who are all participating in the celebration of science, math, invention and technology.
“It really is great to see the full circle of the older kids inspiring the younger kids and, in turn, the younger kids inspiring the older kids to get involved.”
Cappello noted the inspiration of Invention Convention founder Mendelow, and expressed gratitude to Lauren Coker, a district technology and engineering educator, who took over the reins to coordinate the convention after Mendelow retired.
This year’s convention included several new additions, including entrepreneurs Max Liechty and Kausi Raman, the inventors of ChompSaw, who famously pitched their product on season 16 of “Shark Tank” in 2024. They came to Cinnaminson, engaged with students and shared their invention journey with ChompSaw, a kid-safe power tool designed to help children cut cardboard and build creative projects.
On “Shark Tank,” Liechty and Raman asked $250,000 for 5% equity. Sharks Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner teamed to offer $250,000 for 15% equity, with the Sharks splitting the equity evenly at 7.5%.
The entrepreneurs accepted the offer.
Their presence added a unique and inspiring real-world connection for our young inventors, school officials said. Coker said she had sent out sponsorship and outreach letters both last year and again this year.
“This year, one of our vendors who works closely with Max and Kausi also reached out on our behalf,” she explained, “and they were genuinely excited about the event and eager to participate with our students,” she said.
After students heard from Liechty and Raman, they were able to use the ChompSaw to create their own cardboard treasure boxes. During the convention, students were also able to explore how real-world tools are used in building and fabrication with partners from Home Depot.
Through guided prototyping experiences, students practiced measuring, cutting, and assembling their designs while learning safe and responsible tool use.
Below are winners in each grade divison:
Kindergarten
- – Brynn Nelligan – The Potato Po-tah-to
- – Parker Jones – Spinner Winner Take Apart Bricks
- – Elya Goebig – The Marker Collar
Grades 1 and 2
- – Enzo Caposecco – Scrubster 4000
- – Christina Monroy – Peek A Week
- – Julia Sgro – The Epic Bookstand
- – Teagan McDermott – WRAP TASTIC!
Grades 3 to 5
- – Payton Dewey – Cubix
- – Ângelo Carvalho and Olivia Valentini – Grip ‘n’ Keep
- – Pirate, Parrot and Planks
Grades 6 to 8
- – Lillian Marshall and Mokshagna Yedlapati – Atmos-Pack
- – Colin Feeley and Mason Sawyer – S.T.P Trashcan
- – Tommy Wishart and Cyrus Wagner – Automatic Water Cooler
High school
- – Chase Gallant – The Scorpion (Guitar Pick)
- – Fatih Ener – Reflectum Spectrum
- – Dakota Mehlberger – WaterLock
ChompSaw inventors Max Liechty and Kausi Raman shared their invention with students at Cinnaminson High.
