Outstanding Youth Innovators Honored with Awards at the People of Play Chicago Toy & Game Fair

Chicago, IL (November 19, 2024) - The Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) International Championship celebrated its 19th annual awards ceremony on November 9th at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, showcasing aspiring young inventors ages 6-18 from five countries. Dedicated to fostering creativity and entrepreneurship, this event recognized exceptional young inventors who brought forward original toy and game inventions reviewed by toy industry professionals.

The Young Inventor Challenge® offers youth a platform to express their ideas, refine their skills, and receive mentorship from toy industry experts. Winners were selected based on their inventive concepts, compelling pitches, and strong potential for market success.

The 2024 Young Inventor Challenge® International Championship winners include:

Best Pitch - Sponsored by Amazon

• Senior Winner: Skirmish-Battle-War by Gideon Koffman, 6th grade, Toronto, Canada
• Junior Winner: Aliens vs. Cows by Elliott Anderson, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL

Most Innovative - Sponsored by Mattel

• Senior Winner: MetroNet by Keegan Franck, 9th grade, Belmont, MA
• Junior Winners: Makenix by Claire Drapa, 4th grade, Palos Heights, IL & Richard Lee, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL

Most Engaging - Sponsored by Crazy Aaron's

• Senior Winner: Ultramons Board Game by Palash Bhasin, 6th grade, Issaquah, WA
• Junior Winner: Calming Cuddlees by Maria Schwartze, 4th grade, Saint Charles, MO

Most Original - Sponsored by The Op

• Senior Winner: Wizard Quest by Andrew Hebdon, 9th grade, Forest, VA
• Junior Winner: Spladder by Hyacinth Speropolous, 4th grade, Palos Hills, IL

Most Marketable - Sponsored by Jill & Tom Barad

• Senior Winner: Battle Blox by Bella Mulligan, 6th grade, Rolla, MO
• Junior Winner: Chopstick Chef by Nate Tellone, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL

Best Potential - Sponsored by People of Play

• Senior Winner: Tenball by Alex Kirsch, 11th grade, Scarsdale, NY
• Junior Winner: Smack It! by Olivia Scheetz, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL

This year, 168 young inventors submitted a total of 120 toy and game creations to the competition, representing 18 U.S. states, as well as countries such as Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Guyana. Each participant brought global perspectives to their creative concepts. The YIC continues to expand its international reach, offering a platform for young inventors worldwide to share their ideas.

Our esteemed judges collectively dedicated over 200 hours to reviewing, scoring, and providing thoughtful feedback for each participant online. This rigorous review process helped identify winners across six categories, representing the best in innovation, creativity, and market potential.

“Our judges were so impressed by the passion and ingenuity each inventor brought to the table,” said Ahren Hoffman, YIC Director for People of Play. “These young inventors not only displayed immense talent but also the determination to make their ideas a reality. We are honored to support their journeys and grateful to the judges for their commitment to helping each participant grow.”

Congratulations to all the young inventors who participated in this year’s Young Inventor Challenge® International Championship! For more information about the Young Inventor Challenge, visit www.chiTAG.com/yic .

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About People of Play:

People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association, the global toy and game industry inpromoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range ofevents, including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, The Bloom Report, and more.

Media Contacts:

Amy Friedland, amy@carvecomms.com

Emily Auriemma, emilya@carvecomms.com

Susan O’Sullivan, susan@carvecomms.com