Southwest Florida is officially home to two national champions.
Local students showcased their brilliance at the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, held from June 3–5 at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Competing against hundreds of thousands of students from across the country, two Lee County students secured top honors in their respective grade divisions.
Dhira Sharma, who recently completed his freshman year at Fort Myers High School, captured 1st Place in the 9th Grade Division, alongside the prestigious Aerospace Specialty Award. His invention, the SmartMorph Wing, is an adaptive aircraft wing that uses shape-memory alloy technology to change its shape during flight, improving aerodynamic performance without traditional hinged flaps. Dhira designed, built, and tested the project, including a custom wind tunnel, to explore how future aircraft could fly more efficiently while reducing fuel consumption.
For Dhira, innovation isn't just a recent hobby, it’s a long-term passion. He has been a dominant force in the regional Edison Inventor’s Fair program for years, earning "Best of Fair" honors throughout his entire middle school career. This year marked his fourth consecutive qualification to the U.S. Nationals, adding to a growing list of regional, state, and national accolades.
Meanwhile, in the elementary bracket, 10-year-old Hadley Gilchrist of Pinewoods Elementary School brewed up a massive victory. Gilchrist won 1st Place for the 3rd Grade Division with her invention, the Porta Popper.
The clever tool was designed to easily and painlessly remove the basket from an espresso portafilter, which is a notorious daily struggle for home baristas and professional coffee shops alike.
Gilchrist's journey began as a classroom project under the guidance of her 3rd-grade teacher, Jeana Malone, who integrates the invention process directly into her curriculum. In February, she took 2nd Place at the Thomas Edison Regional Science & Engineering Fair, and in April, she swept the Florida State Invention Convention by winning 1st Place for 3rd Grade and the ultimate "Best in Show" title for the entire Elementary Division.
Following her national title, Gilchrist already has her sights set on the business world. She plans to patent the Porta Popper and launch a business targeting coffee shops and espresso enthusiasts. She has already launched a website, portapopper.com, to conduct market research and gather survey data for her entrepreneurial venture.
With national titles, pending patents, and aerospace awards under their belts, these young minds are proving that Southwest Florida is a budding hub for tomorrow's innovators.