What participants say …

Hoopla Rack,
third place and $4,000,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity;
third place and $700,
Tong Prototype Prize;
and Younkle Best Presentation Award

“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”

—Danielle McIntosh

Pen Smart,
$1,000 Judges’ Award for Special Merit,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity

“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”

—Daniel Gartenberg

Innovators in the news …
articles about past competitors

The Schoofs Prize for Creativity and Tong Prototype Prize

Frequently Asked Questions

May I enter with teammates?
Yes, students can enter either individually or with a team. If you enter with a team, you are stipulating that all team members share equally in ownership of the invention. Also, if you enter something that was worked on in a team, all members of the team must be part of the Schoofs entry or the entry will be declared ineligible for the competition.

May I enter with more than one invention? You may. However, past experience has shown that it's very difficult for these multiple entries to be competitive. That's because it's time consuming to create just one competitive entry, much less two. (Remember, almost all of your competitors will have spent all their time on one entry and have a considerable advantage.) Students considering more than one entry may want to choose their best one and concentrate on that invention for their first year in the competition. Then the second invention can be developed and entered next year.

Must I create a prototype of my invention?
No, you do not need to have a prototype to compete — with one exception. Students who worked on their invention in a class must submit a prototype. We encourage prototyping because it can greatly enhance your learning experience. It doesn't have to be a sophisticated, fully operational prototype — just something that indicates you have thought through the physical creation and operation of your invention.

I want to create a prototype, but I don't have money to buy materials. What do I do?
You may apply for a Tong Prototype Competition Loan. Up to $400 is available for students in the competition to buy materials to create their prototypes. You must follow through, build your prototype and compete with your final project. If you do, the loan will be forgiven. If you drop out of the competition or fail to create your prototype, you will have to pay back the loan. All students who register for the Schoofs Prize for Creativity will receive instructions on how to apply for a Tong Prototype Competition Loan.

Can my invention be something I worked on in class?
Yes, you may enter something that was a project you worked on, all or part, in a class. However, if you enter something worked on in a class, you must submit a prototype. If you worked on it as a group project, all of the other students involved must be members of your team as well.

How can I be sure that my invention hasn't been done before?
The contest administrator cannot provide consulting on patent questions/issues. For information on patents and patenting, consult:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office
http://www.uspto.gov

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
http://www.warf.ws/index.jsp

Kurt F. Wendt Library
Nancy Spitzer, patent librarian
Room 313 Kurt F. Wendt Library
608/265-9802
spitzer@engr.wisc.edu

My team has already applied for a patent on our invention. May we still compete?
You may compete in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity only if all people named in the patent application are eligible to compete. Examples of people who would not be eligible are students who have already graduated by the entry deadline date, graduate students, faculty and university staff and anyone who is not a registered undergraduate, including industry representatives. Also, if you have already applied for a patent when you turn in your entry, you must disclose that fact in your entry and submit a copy of the patent application.

Are we required to apply for a patent to compete?
No, patent application is not required. However, we recommend that each team investigate the patent process and consider whether they wish to take that step to protect ownership of their invention. There will be an Innovation Day seminar to cover patents during the fall semester. For information on patents and patenting, consult:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office
http://www.uspto.gov

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
http://www.warf.ws/index.jsp

Kurt F. Wendt Library
Nancy Spitzer, patent librarian
Room 313 Kurt F. Wendt Library
608/265-9802
spitzer@engr.wisc.edu

I worked on my invention with a partner who has already graduated. May I enter the invention myself?
No, this invention would not be eligible. All co-developers must be listed as team members and must be eligible for the competition. In this case, a student who has already graduated is not eligible for the competition. (Students who were enrolled in fall semester and will graduate in December 2007 are eligible for the Feb. 2008 competition.)

I can't attend all the required seminars — may I still compete?
The seminars listed on the website will be required for all contestants. If you cannot attend in person, you must check out and watch the videotape of the seminar. A tape of each seminar will be available for viewing in Kurt F. Wendt Library beginning at 5 p.m. two days after each seminar. Request the tape in room 433. Tapes are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. (Students who will be out on co-op during the fall semester may arrange with the contest administrator to have the seminar tapes mailed to them.)

I'll be out of town in February on the day of the competition. Can I still compete?
No, you must be present for the competition and judging in order to compete. The only exception may be made for students who are part of a team and are out on co-op on the day of the competition and cannot return to Madison. (Contestants out on a co-op must notify the contest administrator and request an exemption to this rule in advance.)

Is it OK if I turn in my application or completed project a little late?
The deadlines above are absolute — no exceptions will be made. You must turn your application and projects in on time, or you will be out of the competition.

Do I have to turn in my prototype with the rest of my entry?
No, your prototype is not due until the day of the competition.

How do I register for the Schoofs Prize for Creativity?
The only way to register is electronically, on-line, at the competition website. This website also contains important information on the required seminars and rules for the competition.

How do I register for the Tong Prototype Prize?
Separate registration is not required to compete for the Tong Prototype Prize. The contest administrator will contact all registered Schoofs Prize for Creativity contestants to determine which entries will submit prototypes for the Tong competition.

What kinds of things belong in my Ideas Notebook?
Past Schoofs winner Chad Sorenson offers these tips:

• BE VISUAL with your description of your idea development. The sketch is the language of the engineer; be sure to sign each page and have it signed by a non-inventing individual who understands the development of your work.

• Stay current with your documentation and do it just as much for your own purposes as for the patent office.

• If you want to get nit-picky, excessive scribbles to void errors, etc. should be avoided. Use only a singular line through mistakes, and initial and date any corrections. Also, they like it if you sign across inserted pieces to verify it was added to the lab book at that time.

• Blank space should be voided with a single line before moving on.

HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Send them to innovation@engr.wisc.edu.