It was great to sit amongst some of the Bay’s emerging young talent at the 2019 Young Innovator Awards where this year’s young innovators’ best concepts were presented.
The Young Innovator Awards (YiA) creates tomorrow’s innovators by offering a hands-on, learn-by-doing experience. Students are challenged to design a unique innovation that will make the world a better place. YiA is creating tomorrow’s innovators in local schools and preparing our future workforce with the skills they need to compete in a rapidly changing work environment.
This year’s best entries won internships at leading innovative businesses in the Bay and cash prizes up to $2,000. Page Macrae Engineering is the proud sponsor of the Senior section (years 9-13).
In the Senior section, finalists were: D.I.G.E.R. – a machine that sits in a rubbish skip that can sort glass bottles by colour. Klick Tanks – interlocking tanks that can be removed and are portable for a natural disaster. Vibrabands – a wristband for cyclists which vibrates when cars pass.
Winner, Sarah Latus (Otemoetai College) – Vibrabands, runners-up, Geordan Giblett (Papamoa College) – Klik Tanks, Ella Waterreus (Tauranga Girls’ College) – D.I.G.E.R.
Congratulations to the winners in all categories. You all have a bright future ahead of you. With talent like this in the Bay of Plenty region, the future is exciting!
