Inventors have the chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to represent their school and Kansas City at the national and global competitions! At KCIC 2025, students received over $60,000 in cash prizes and awards. All prizes won by teams are divided equally among team members. Students must be present and compete at KCIC to receive an award. Award opportunities include: 

Linda Hall Library Awards 

Best in Show, $3,000, presented by Linda Hall Library 
Awarded to the highest-scoring invention across all the grade tiers.

Educator Appreciation, $500  
Given by the programming staff of the Linda Hall Library to recognize exceptional support for invention education in the Kansas City metro. Educator appreciation awards are given to educators, not student inventors.  

Page to Prototype, $250, presented by Linda Hall Library Staff Activities Committee  
This award will be given to a project with an exceptional logbook.

Sustainability Award, $250, presented by Linda Hall Library Sustainability Committee  
This award is for a project that contributes meaningfully to sustainability, justice and equity.

Grade Tier Awards 

First place, $600 
Second place, $450   
Third place, $300  

First-place winners in each grade tier are invited to Dearborn, Michigan, to compete at Invention Convention U. S. Nationals in June and will receive a travel stipend to assist with travel expenses.