Southington students honored for Connecticut Invention Convention invitations

A ceremony at the Southington Board of Education meeting recognized middle‑school students who were invited to the 2025 Connecticut Invention Convention and, in several cases, to national competitions.

Alicia Nalway, the district's K–5 science curriculum coordinator, introduced the honorees and read names of students invited to states and beyond. Nalway noted that some students received further recognition, including Balen Beelitz (Kennedy Middle School), who earned an invitation to the US Innovator Challenge and was a US national Innovator Challenge finalist for his invention “Bayes Trays.” Nalway also highlighted other projects such as Vincent Coppola’s “rodent eradicator,” Mason Hamilton’s “easy on mitten” (which received the Connecticut Science Center Award) and Aiden Owlette’s “solar shield” (which earned an Eversource Award).

Mr. Madanci, who opened the event portion of the meeting, said the ceremony is “one of our favorite portions of every board of education meeting” and praised the students’ creativity and the community turnout. Board members, families and students applauded as certificates were presented and the group gathered for a photo and an informal opportunity for board members to ask students about their inventions.

The recognition covered students from Kennedy and DePaulo middle schools, Apollo Middle School and others; several students who could not attend were named and acknowledged. The board emphasized the role of community donations and staff support in sustaining school programs that foster student innovation.

The celebration concluded with board members inviting students to speak with them informally about their projects; the meeting then proceeded to its regular business items.