Student Inventions On Display At Bi-Lo Center

On Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5, students from around Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson will have their inventions on display at the BI-LO Center during the 11th Annual BI-LO Invention Convention, presented by The Palmetto Bank and Greenville Hospital System Children’s Hospital. At Thursday night’s awards ceremony, one of the talented young inventors will win a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of BI-LO.

The BI-LO Invention Convention is open to students in grades four through eight, and last year more than 1,200 children participated. Students who compete in the BI-LO Invention Convention have their imagination, innovation and creativity challenged as they try to develop inventions that provide solutions to everyday issues.

The BI-LO Invention Convention is open to the public on Wednesday from 10-8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10-6 p.m. On Wednesday, the students and their teachers will arrive to begin setting up the inventions. Around 6:30 p.m., Rick Singleton will be on stage to perform a comedic magic show while the judges make their way around the BI-LO Center to talk students about their inventions. On Thursday, the BI-LO Invention Convention welcomes field trips from schools around the Upstate, and the awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.

Many prizes will be awarded, including first through third place awards for each grade represented, and specialty awards such as Most Creative and Best Use of Research and Development. The Grand Prize Winner will receive an extraordinary prize package, including among other items a one-year supply of PET Dairy Ice Cream, $500 Mitchell’s Photography gift certificate, family of four membership to Greenville Hospital System Life Center Health and Conditioning Club, iPod touch and $1,000 scholarship to be presented by John Gianakas

“Presenting the Invention Convention’s grand prize winner with a scholarship is such an exciting moment for BI-LO. These kids are all so intelligent and have worked so hard to develop these inventions. Being able to contribute to the education of such a promising, bright young student is truly an honor,” said Katie Sanfilippo, Events and Sports Marketing Manager with BI-LO.

Along with creative inventions and spectacular prizes, the BI-LO Invention Conventions will offer a variety of exhibits for participants and visitors. All children will receive a check from The Palmetto Bank that they can cash at “The Palmetto Bank Teller Booth” for “BI-LO Kid Cash.” The children can then go to the “BI-LO Mini Super Store” and use their Kid Cash to purchase actual products. Other activities include Carolina Elite Soccer’ s “Goal in One,” games sponsored by Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, the Greenville Drive’s pitching machine, Paintball Central’s indoor paintball range and free ice cream samples from Pet Dairy.