Middle Schooler Beats 202,000 Students to Win U.S. Invention Convention
Wafricnews - June 9, 2025
From the basement of his family home in Newington, Connecticut, to the national stage in Michigan — 13-year-old Nigerian-American inventor Nolan Kosciukiewicz has just made history with his patent-pending invention, the Super Flipper.
Chosen out of more than 202,000 students across the U.S., Nolan was named a winner at the 2025 Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, hosted at the prestigious Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. He took home the top prize in the Household Organization and Appliances category — and he’s just in 8th grade!
“It was crazy,” Nolan said.
“Right when I heard ‘Super Flipper,’ everyone went crazy. It was so amazing. It just means so much to me.”
But this isn’t just a story about innovation. It’s a story about family, empathy, and purpose.
Nolan’s award-winning invention — a lever-powered spatula that flips 180 degrees — was born out of love and observation. His uncle Paul, who lives with cerebral palsy, inspired him to create a tool that makes cooking easier for people with limited hand mobility.
“I wanted to help him, and that’s how Super Flipper started,” Nolan shared.
“This award shows my desire to help others. I want to create things that make life easier.”
The invention is already patent-pending, and the Kosciukiewicz family is now working with manufacturers to prepare for market launch. Nolan, who is currently refining the third prototype, has been personally involved in every stage — from technical calls to production design.
“He’s not interested in mass-producing just anything. He wants it done right,” his father, Steve, said.
Nolan comes from a legacy of problem-solvers. His late maternal grandfather was an inventor with 11 medical product patents to his name, and his mother Jen, a special education teacher, continues to instill those values of service and innovation.
At just 13, Nolan is already making waves, with pre-orders rolling in and interest growing fast.
“He has an inventing table in the basement where he’s always working,” Steve added.
“He’s been building this for the last 18 months. This is just the beginning.”
This fall, Nolan will begin high school at Xavier High School in Middletown, but his journey as a young innovator is already turning heads across America — and serving as a powerful reminder that some of the most life-changing inventions start at home, from a place of love.
At the 2025 U.S. Nationals, over 75 awards were handed out, but it was Nolan’s story of heart-led innovation that stole the show — and inspired a new generation of young change-makers.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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