Kiefaber recognized at National Invention Convention

Ben Kiefaber, a seventh grade student at East Ridge Middle School, showcased his invention “Rear Ender Defender” at the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE) held May 31 to June 2 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Out of 110,000 kindergarten through 12th grade student inventors who competed locally, regionally and in state competitions, Ben was one of 427 students from 20 states, Mexico and Canada who participated in NICEE, including more than 100 from Connecticut. Ben’s invention, a device designed to prevent rear-end car accidents, won multiple awards, including the Human Mobility Award presented by Otis Elevator Company, a business unit of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). UTC was the presenting sponsor of the third annual NICEE, an extension of the corporations’ decades-long sponsorship and volunteer commitment to the Connecticut Invention Convention.