Making the cut: Edcouch-Elsa student invention becomes finalist in national competition

EDCOUCH — A sharp idea for a class project landed a group of Edcouch-Elsa High School students a finalist spot in a national competition, as well as kudos from fellow inventors.

The six students were taking a scientific research and design class when they started to develop a pair of scissors that cut with the flick of a thumb, instead of holding onto and squeezing the handles.

They made the prototype using a flashlight, a spring from a ballpoint pen, a rubber band, wire and a pair of scissor blades.

They call the product “arthriscissors,” because they created the scissors to help people with arthritis. To cut, users turn the “flashlight” on and off.

The students said they came up with the idea during a brainstorming session in class last fall and started developing their product right away. It took them several tries to come up with the final product.

They entered their scissors into the JETS/AbilityOne National Engineering Design Challenge in Arlington, Va., last fall. Their project was one of six high school entries in the country to make it to the contest’s finals last month.

The AbilityOne Program and NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities sponsored the competition.

Bob Chamberlin, president and chief executive officer of NISH, said the judges usually picks five finalists, but this year’s entries were so impressive the judges picked one more.

“They’re all winners,” said Bob Chamberlin, president and chief executive officer of NISH.

The Edcouch-Elsa students said they were nervous to present their invention.

“I’ve never been in a competition like that,” said Joe De La Peña, a 16-year-old sophomore.

Each group of students had to give a presentation on their product to a panel of judges, which the students admitted was a little intimidating.

“They were nice, but serious,” said Javier Cantu, a 16-year-old sophomore. “They really welcomed us (and) encouraged us to continue to design.”

Joe, Javier and the other students who went on the trip said they were impressed by some of the other inventions in the competition. So, when fellow student inventors unanimously voted them to receive the competition’s Peer Award, they were surprised and honored. Some of the students from other schools even asked to try out the scissors.

A student group from Kansas ended up winning the contest.

But the life experience the students brought back home with them was nearly award enough. Some of the students said they’ve never left the state or the Rio Grande Valley before.

“When we first got there I couldn’t believe we were there,” said Anthony Martinez, a 17-year-old senior. Anthony said he spent some time looking out the window of his hotel room when he first arrived, taking in the view, just across from Washington D.C.

Back at home now, the students — whom also included Juan Carlos Saenz, Maria Garcia and Noemi Martinez — have a finalist trophy and Peer Award certificate in their classroom to remind them of their accomplishment and encourage them to try to make the cut again next year.

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.