senate resolution no.131

Senators Polehanki, Santana, McMorrow, Chang and Geiss offered the following resolution:

A resolution to recognize April 30, 2022, as Invention Convention Michigan Day.

Whereas, Invention Convention Worldwide is the go-to global community for firsthand experiences that ignite the spark of innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship in young people; and

Whereas, Invention Convention Michigan, an affiliate program of Invention Convention Worldwide, provides Michigan students in grades 3-12 an interactive, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused and interdisciplinary opportunity to participate in the invention process by first identifying a real-world problem, creating, and then pitching a solution to the problem; and

Whereas, Students advance to the Invention Convention Michigan competition after qualifying through Invention Convention competitions at the local or regional levels; and

Whereas, Invention Convention competitions are held by individual school districts and seven regional hubs, including Oakland University, Kettering University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Lakeshore Museum Center in Muskegon, and the Saginaw Intermediate School District; and

Whereas, Nearly 800 students from across the state participated in Invention Convention activities in 2021, with more than 200 student inventors qualifying to participate in the Invention Convention Michigan state level competition; and

Whereas, Students compete in Invention Convention Michigan for the chance to advance to the Invention Convention United States (U.S.) nationals event; and

Whereas, Participants in Invention Convention Michigan are competitively judged, encouraged, and celebrated by engineering, business, legal, and other professionals across a range of fields and disciplines; and

Whereas, Invention Convention Michigan participants have strong representation by females, students of color, and students from financially challenged environments; and

Whereas, The 2022 Invention Convention Michigan and the Invention Convention U.S. nationals competition will be permanently organized and hosted by the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation at their historic landmark campus in Dearborn, Michigan; and

Whereas, Michigan has a well-deserved international reputation as a center for invention, innovation, and creativity, but also recognizes the importance of entrepreneurial learning for our local, state, and national economies and our global competitive advantage; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 30, 2022, as Invention Convention Michigan Day and acknowledge the contributions that the Henry Ford’s Invention Convention makes to our great state.