McGuire Center Supports Next Generation of Innovators

March 15, 2016
By Kat Salthouse

The McGuire Center is encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators by offering the McGuire Young Entrepreneur Award to science fair participants in Southern Arizona. The award recognized students for their innovation at the Youth Engineering & Science Fair (YES Fair) in Sierra Vista and at the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF) event in Tucson.

The McGuire Young Entrepreneur Award was created to reward projects that present an innovative idea and demonstrates entrepreneurial potential, encouraging students to identify a problem and create an innovative solution. Students in grades 6-12 received a $50 cash prize, and in addition, two high school students were presented with a scholarship to attend the McGuire Summer Academy to further develop their entrepreneurial skills. Congratulations to the following innovative students! 

McGuire Young Entrepreneur Award Winners

YES Fair Winners 

  • Handicap Saddles – Sarah Lyman from Elgin School  

  • Project Greenbox – Andrew McGinnis and Zack Oldberg from Buena High School 

SARSEF Winners

  • Velcroats: The Velcro Lab Coat – David Bressler from Sonoran Science Academy Tucson
  • Catalytic Degradation of Plastic Bags into Carbon Dioxide – A Future Direction in Fuel Production -Moritz Gloesslein and Zach Polykarp from Gregory School
  • Hovering Away from Handicaps – Issabella Luna from Flowing Wells HS
  • The Computer Glove – Domonic Hall from Quail Run Elementary School
  • By the Heat of Your Seat! – Sam Roth Gordon from Doolen Middle School
  • On the Go Air Flow – Isaiah Davidson from Thai Home School
  • Climb the Stairs – Michael Faulk from Khalsa Montessori School

In addition to the traditional science fair, SARSEF held Future Innovators Night on March 4, and the Student Entrepreneurship Association was there representing the McGuire Center. The McGuire Center table gave families a chance to test their knowledge of company logos and learn about the importance of branding. They were also able to submit an innovative business idea and the top ideas won a prize. Families from all over Southern Arizona attended this event.