TMCnet News
littleBits Announces Winners of National Competition Featuring the Droid Inventor Kit, Toy Association's "Creative Toy of the Year"NEW YORK, April 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- littleBits, the electronics company that empowers kids to be inventors, today announced the winners of a massive nationwide contest, the littleBits Competition: Droid Inventor Kit. As part of the competition, the company collaborated with Lucasfilm to challenge kids to think outside the box and invent their own custom Droids using littleBits' award-winning Droid Inventor Kit. "Our mission at littleBits is to inspire kids of all backgrounds and genders to get excited about STEAM," said Ayah Bdeir, founder and CEO of littleBits. "We made the Droid Inventor Kit not as a finished toy for them to play with, but as a launchpad for creativity and invention. We're thrilled to have won the Toy Industry Association's Creative Toy of the Year, but we are even more gratified to see our vision carried out by these creative kids as you see in the competition." The littleBits Competition: Droid Inventor Kit invited kids, families, and Star Wars fans in the U.S., U.K., and Canada to share their own unique Droid creations with the global inventor community. Of more than 300 creative submissions received during the competition, more than 50 percent were from young female inventors. Each submission was judged on creative use of materials, inventiveness, and a video presentation. The panel of judges comprised accomplished female business and entertainment role models including:
"I was really struck by how innovative and creative these kids are, and what a fantastic sense of humor they have," said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. "The submissions were truly inspiring, and I'm hopeful their enthusiasm for inventing will become a lifelong passion." Three winners were chosen in each of two categories -- beginner, or "Padawan Learner" and advanced, or "Jedi Master." Entrants were judged on creative use of materials, inventivenss, and their video presentation. Two first-prize winners received all-expenses-paid, VIP trips to Lucasfilm + $500 littleBits bucks; two second-prize winners received an R2-D2 replica signed by the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi + a littleBits Code Kit; and the two third-prize winners received a $200 Disney shopping spree + littleBits swag. Take a look at the winners of the littleBits Competition: Droid InventorKit: Beginner: Padawan Learners Category
Advanced: Jedi Masters Category
There were hundreds of submissions from cities like Denver, Colorado to Etobicoke, Ontario. Fifty-one percent of the entries featured female inventors, whose entries pointed to some unique trends. For example, girls like to create a storyline: rehearse a script, play a role, add drama. Many of their projects were meant to help their siblings, create art, take care of pets, or assist with household chores like cooking or cleaning. For more information, visit www.littleBits.com. About littleBits STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/littlebits-announces-winners-of-national-competition-featuring-the-droid-inventor-kit-toy-associations-creative-toy-of-the-year-300625479.html SOURCE littleBits |