Out of seven finalists for Bright Spark's 2017 Invention Challenge, five teams were from Westwood. Fifth grader Drew Snyder and his Easy Basketball Goal Lift invention took first place and the $500 prize.

Snyder's idea allows children to pedal their bike, attached to their basketball goal, and using simple machinery, easily maneuver the goal up and down to their desired height.

Snyder says he came up with the idea after being frustrated time and time again that he could not lift his goal at home without his dad's assistance. When the Bright Spark Invention Challenge came around, he took the opportunity to solve his real-world problem.

"Just do something you like and are interested in," said Snyder.

Challenge teacher Martha Thomason said she thinks his invention stood out because it is so realistic. "I think what tipped Drew's invention over for the judges was the simplicity of it. You could physically see it work right there in front of you, whereas most others just showed a picture of a prototype," she said. "This product could really be done. He's solved a problem everyone faces."

Invention submissions from the area were posted to Bright Spark's Facebook page, and the top "liked" inventions were chosen as finalists. Other students chosen as finalists represented Chattanooga Christian School and Rock Spring Elementary School. The finals took place in conjunction with the Surge Awards for middle and high school students at Chattanooga State College on January 10.

The other Westwood finalists were:

• Fifth grader Alexia Gonzalez with the Ca-Brush
• Second grade students Kate Harrison and Wells Wilkerson with the Hands-Free Binoculars
• Third grade students Cross Land and Ayush Patel with the A&C Hoverer
• Third grade students Ada Holloway, Mikenley King and Sydney Brown with the Booster Boot

Each finalist group presented their invention in front of a room full of adults and a panel of judges, who were then able to ask questions. This public-speaking venture was a first for many of the students, but they handled the task with confidence. They took the judges comments and questions home and thought about ways they could improve their ideas.

The binocular group, who came up with a solution for going hands-free while hunting, hiking or even whale watching by attaching straps to a pair of binoculars, continued to brainstorm.

"Next time we could attach some actual magnifying glasses to the prototype, or maybe even a camera lens," said Wilkerson.

"We could add a way for you to twist it and zoom in," added Harrison. "Maybe there's a way you could flip it up off your face when you aren't using it."

The competition encouraged the students to think creatively and work as a team. The Booster Boot team, who thought up a solar-powered shoe with fans on the back to help you move faster, came to conclusion that their first attempt would not be perfect and the real success was in the creative process.

"You don't just come up with an idea, and it's perfectly correct," said Holloway. "We realized it takes a while to think of different things to solve the different problems you face."

King added that the team had a lot of arguments when putting their heads together, but of course it worked out in the end.

Brown added, "We solved the arguments and made something we were all proud of and each took a part in."