Thirteen student teams from Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy (SASA) are leading the way in innovation as part of the 13th annual A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition.
These talented students are among 20 teams from Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties working to solve real-world problems through STEM.
Each SASA team has identified a challenge and is developing creative solutions that could make a lasting impact. Their projects include:
Detector and app to prevent carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound deaths/poisonings
Methods and products to make 3D printing more environmentally friendly through recycling and biodegradable products
Tools to make daily tasks easier for people with dexterity disabilities
Performance stocking designed to increase blood flow, supporting comfort and peak performance for sports
Add-on system that detects black ice through thermal, non-contact sensors and alerts drivers to slow down
Solution for anterior cruciate ligament tears beyond traditional methods
3D-printed compatible spacer to assist with inhaler use and reduce infection rates
Biodegradable alternatives to single-use medical equipment to improve human and environmental health
Retrofit, reusable washing-machine filter with progressive mesh layers that can decrease microplastics in waterways
Reusable, environmentally friendly animal-tracking devices enabled by robotics
Device that detects strokes, calls a chosen contact with prerecorded messages, produces soothing sounds and vibrations, and guides the victim and bystanders
Resources for breast cancer patients to make their difficult situation less stressful
Syringes that lock to prevent multiple uses of a needle, preventing bloodborne pathogens from spreading
These students have already advanced through Phase One and earned a $1,000 grant to research and develop their solutions.
Next, they will submit detailed reports by March 31 and present their projects live at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25. At stake: up to $42,500 in scholarships for students and $35,000 in STEM education grants for schools.
We are proud of our SASA students for their creativity, teamwork, and commitment to making a difference. Their work reflects the very best of Saginaw Public Schools—innovation, excellence, and a passion for learning.
Way to go, SASA innovators!