Celebrating Innovation: Better Blade Wins the 2025 InVenture Prize IronCAD Elementary/Middle School Mechanical Design Award
Mar 26, 2025 |
Innovation, creativity, and engineering excellence took center stage at the 2025 InVenture Prize, where young minds showcased groundbreaking designs to address real-world challenges. Sponsored by IronCAD, the Mechanical Design Award recognizes outstanding student teams for their ingenious use of 3D Computer-Aided Design tools. This year, the prestigious award was claimed by Better Blade, a remarkable elementary school team competing in the elementary and middle school category.
Better Blade: A Game-Changer for Marine Safety
The Better Blade team, consisting of two bright and determined students, Sashwat Lalas and Iyana Watson, impressed the IronCAD judges with their revolutionary approach to marine safety and their use of CAD. Their project aimed to tackle a significant environmental concern: the impact of boat propellers on marine life. Through their innovative design, they created blades out of a plastic/rubber with smooth edges to prevent accidental harm to fish, whales, turtles, and other aquatic creatures. Their design improvements also consists of 3 holes on each blade to improve drag resistance and airflow.
Utilizing IronCAD, the team meticulously designed and 3D-printed their protective blades, demonstrating exceptional skill in mechanical design and problem-solving. Their invention not only showcases the power of young engineers but also highlights how technology can be leveraged for environmental protection.
IronCAD Mechanical Design Award Winners Better Blade
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Winning the Mechanical Design Award is a testament to the team’s hard work and innovative thinking. As part of their achievement, the Better Blade team received an exciting package of rewards:
- Cash Prize: A well-earned financial award to support their future endeavors.
- Merchandise: Exclusive IronCAD gear to celebrate their success.
- Tri-Ball Trophy: Their school was honored with a prestigious trophy, the Tri-Ball, recognizing the institution’s commitment to fostering creativity and STEM excellence.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
The success of Better Blade serves as an inspiration for students everywhere. By addressing real-world issues with smart, sustainable solutions, they have set an example of what young minds can achieve with passion, teamwork, and the right technological tools.
IronCAD and the InVenture Prize team extend their heartfelt congratulations to Better Blade and all participants who showcased their exceptional talents in mechanical design. As we celebrate these future innovators, we look forward to seeing how they continue to shape a better, safer, and more sustainable world through engineering.
Take Your Ideas to the Next Level with IronCAD
Inspired by Better Blade’s success? Start designing your own innovations today! IronCAD offers solutions to help aspiring engineers bring their ideas to life. Try IronCAD’s Free Trial or get a Student License and see where your creativity can take you!