Eighth-Grade Inventor Takes Home $1,000 Scholarship at 13th Annual Bi-Lo Invention Convention
March 3, 2011
Over 1500 Children from Across the Upstate Competed for Grand Prize
GREENVILLE, SC – March 3, 2011 – On Wednesday, March 2, and Thursday, March 3, roughly 1,500 fourth- through eighth-grade student inventors from Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson counties displayed their innovative and creative skills at the BI-LO Center during the 13th annual BI-LO Invention Convention. At tonight’s awards ceremony, Andrew Olson from Wren Middle School took home a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of BI-LO. The talented young inventor was awarded “Best Invention” for creating a wind turbine car.
Thanks to BI-LO Charities, students also competed against each other in the BI-LO Wii Fit Challenge to win an entry in the drawing for a Promethean SMART Board. Miles Turman from Gettys Middle School in Powdersville won the Promethean SMART Board, the newest generation of interactive whiteboards, for his classroom.
Along with imaginative inventions and spectacular prizes, the BI-LO Invention Convention offered a variety of exhibits for participants and visitors. Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to win great prizes and see all the inventions from students across the Upstate.
Monica Amburn, BI-LO’s registered dietitian, was on-hand to talk with students, parents and teachers about the fun and exciting ways they can eat healthier and lead a more active lifestyle.
Tonight, the BI-LO Invention Convention awards ceremony culminated at 6:00 p.m. as BI-LO Vice President of Marketing and Advertising Kip Faulhaber announced the grand prize winner. Many prizes were awarded, including first-through third-place honors for each grade represented, along with specialty awards such as “Most Creative” and “Best Use of Research and Development.”
“BI-LO is excited to present Andrew with the 2011 Invention Convention grand prize and a much-deserved scholarship,” said Faulhaber. “All of these students are intelligent and have worked hard to build such creative inventions. We’re proud to be able to contribute to the education of promising, bright young students from our community.”
For more information about the 2011 BI-LO Invention Convention, please visit www.icupstate.com.
About BI-LO
Headquartered in Mauldin, S.C., BI-LO operates 207 supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, employing approximately 15,100 people. Founded in 1961, the company provides shoppers substantial savings without sacrificing quality or freshness through its BI-LO BONUSCARD® and other exclusive programs. A committed corporate citizen, BI-LO has donated more than $52 million through its BI-LO Charities efforts to organizations across the company’s footprint since 1983.
