Whiz Kid: Mae Lynn Harrington, Bay View S.M.A.R.T. Team

Mae Lynn Harrington, grade 8, St. Mary Academy-Bay View.

Accomplishment: Member of the Bay View S.M.A.R.T. team, which won the state First Lego League competition Jan. 15. With the victory, Harrington and her team earned a trip to St. Louis, Mo., for the national contest — and recognition by the Rhode Island House of Representatives, scheduled for this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

The girls also won a $5,000-a-year scholarship to Roger Williams University and entry into the X Prize Foundation's contest for a $20,000 grant.

Key To Awesomeness: Teamwork. Harrington worked with her squad to design and build a solar-powered pair of glasses with Light Detection And Ranging, or LIDAR sensors. It's the same technology used in speed-detection devices used by police departments.

The potential for the invention is great, as blind people would be able to better interact with their environment.

“This is a wonderful example of the spirit of science and technology brought to life for all these students.” said Linda Grasso, Harrington's S.M.A.R.T. Coach.

The Bay View squad is also seeking help to garner online votes in their drive to get their invention patented. So far, the team has collected more than 12,000 votes — you can add your votes at the Bay View website or the Global Innovation Award site.