Mayor Ron Littlefield awarded the three winners of the first Great Ideas Competition at noon Wednesday.
First place winner Amir Bahadoran of Red Bank High School received a gold medal and $2,500 award for college tuition for his illuminated mailbox invention.
Matt Pewsey, a student of Ooltewah High School, came in second and received a silver medal and $500 award for proposing the establishment of a Science Museum in Chattanooga.
The bronze medal and $500 award went to Adam Schwartz of CSAS High School as he placed third in the Great Ideas Competition for his idea to create a coupon book for students only.
Seven finalists, their teachers, Chris Monroe, Doug Mosley and Heather Keller and parents attended the Kruesi Spirit of Innovation Luncheon at the Chattanooga Trade and Convention Center. All of the finalists were recognized by Mayor Littlefield for their hard work and achievement as 1,200 attendees applauded. Chattem partnered with the mayor’s office by providing sponsor dollars to cover the cost of the finalist’s lunches and presentation video that showed highlights of the program.
“The Great Ideas Competition has given our students the opportunity to harness their creativity, imagination, and innovation,” said Mayor Littlefield. “Creativity is the spark in the engine that drives change. Together we can use creativity in our schools to move forward with inventions, discoveries in science and entrepreneurship. It is our hope this competition can do just that – unlock minds to unexplored territory.”
This year the Great Ideas Competition will be expanded and offered to juniors and seniors in public, private and home schools. For more information, log onto www.Chattanooga.gov or call the mayor’s office at 425-7800. Students are encouraged to register on line for this year’s event now.
“I think this competition is in itself a great idea,” said County Mayor Claude Ramsey. “Mr. Littlefield has figured out a way to sing the praises of our public schools in such a way that not only builds on what our teachers are already teaching, but provides healthy competition for our students.”