[Press Release] New Jersey – June 3, 2018 – When Joey was asked what it meant for him and his sister Heidi to be selected to present their invention at NICEE 2018, Joey said, “Wow! I mean 110,000 kids like us submitted their ideas this year, so for Heidi and I to be just two of the mere 450 lucky kids that made it to Nationals, well that’s literally ‘Outta this World!’”, referencing Joey and Heidi’s invention, an educational board game called OUTTA THIS WORLD!, which teaches an accelerated invention process, which they created.
Team inventors were judged in the age category of the oldest team participant, so that meant Heidi, age 11, was competing with 15-18 year olds. But was Heidi surprised when she and her brother won First Place in the 10th-12th Grade Inventor Category? “No way!”, exclaimed Heidi who then continued on saying, “It’s just proof that we can all invent and create, no matter how old we are, and that collaborating helps good ideas become great inventions.”
But this spirited team of sibling inventors were not done celebrating the fruits of their hard work yet. NICEE 2018 offered a very prestigious award Category titled, “The Inspiring Changemaker Award”. The Inspiring Changemaker Award was presented by Azi Jamalian, PhD, Head of Education Strategy at littleBits, an innovative education company which makes technology kits that are fun, easy-to-use, and infinitely creative.
“When our OUTTA THIS WORLD! Innovation Accelerator game won The 2018 NICEE Inspiring Changemaker Award presented by littleBits, I just sorta froze in the moment…” reflects Joey who then continued saying, “I mean as an innovator or entrepreneur, you find a problem you care about and you want to solve, and then you just go for it, but winning the Inspiring Changemaker Award really shows me that hard work and focus really does help you reach for, and achieve, your dreams!’
With all of this excitement, momentum is building for this young team of go-getters. “We are so excited because teachers from across the United States, and even from amazing places like Singapore, and China, Latin America and Australia, and even Europe are reaching out to us asking how they can bring our gamified education to their students.”, shares Joey.
“Yeah and what’s really fun is when we get to visit their schools and speak directly to their students, and even play a round or two of OUTTA THIS WORLD! together, because we get to show more kids that they can be just like us.” shares Heidi.
Heidi also added some great advice to future innovators, “Just put your creativity to work at solving a problem you see, and next year, you can be presenting your invention at NICEE too!”.
OUTTA THIS WORLD! The Game can only be purchased at www.fizzeelabs.com/otw, for the specially discounted price of $55. Community Packs which include 5 games, post game learning tools and training materials, are also available upon request at innovate@fizzeelabs.com,
These packs are great for classrooms and community organizations interested in hosting Innovation Fun & Learning Events.
Joseph R. Hudicka
908.334.0660
About Fizzee:
Founded 2014, Creator of Entrepreneurial & Innovation Learning Tools and Events from Classroom to Corporate Environments, business founded by Joey, Heidi, Lora and Joe Hudicka.
About NICEE 2018:
This STEMIE Coalition-fueled National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship (NICEE) event is an annual celebration of K-12 inventors and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. This far-reaching forum is the marquee event of The STEMIE Coalition. The event provides a live, in-person opportunity for youth inventors and entrepreneurs in grades 3-12 to display their critical thinking skills through inventing, innovating, and entrepreneurial activities. NICEE 2018 is presented by United Technologies Corporation.
http://www.stemie.org/2018-nicee/
About littleBits:
littleBits makes technology kits that are fun, easy-to-use, and infinitely creative. The kits are composed of electronic building blocks that are color-coded, magnetic, and make complex technology simple and fun. Together they’re interchangeable in millions of different ways to empower kids to invent anything – from a sibling alarm, to a wireless robot, to a digital instrument.
