Here at Willow Glen High School, students aren’t just learning—they’re innovating. From creating groundbreaking technology to developing simple effective solutions, these young minds are experimenting with the boundaries of possibility through their designs and projects. We’re spotlighting some of the brightest student innovators, offering a look into their creative minds, the unique projects they’ve developed, and the challenges they’ve had to overcome along the way. Their stories, passions, and motivations are the first step in creating brilliant minds.
Inventing doohickies and building gadgets stands as a collective fascination for many kids when they are young. The idea of manually creating a working and practical device completely by yourself is so enthralling and rewarding. Even starting small, like a paper airplane or a birdhouse, it’s a satisfying feeling: creating. It’s even better when the things invented are meaningful beyond practicality. Gabe Bonilla (‘25) works in construction with his dad and builds a variety of objects and contraptions. For him, it’s more than the things he fixes or makes, it’s a way of spending time and bonding with his dad. “Before anything, I didn’t have any way of really connecting with my dad until I started working with him and I appreciate what I do because of my dad.” Many believe it’s a privilege to have a meaningful connection with family or loved ones when you’re both passionate about the same things. While simultaneously fixing cars and building pools, Gabe both gives back and creates new memories with his dad.
These students are supported by teachers, parents, friends, and family, who provide encouragement from various perspectives while they work on new and ongoing projects. Motivation and support is an essential aspect in success. Having people you can count on no matter what is the ultimate comfort especially for students like Sofia Llabres (‘25), who invents shelter devices for the unhoused, a self sorting urban trash can, and an electric juicer. For Sofia, her goal is simply to give back as much as she can. Her support team is mainly her portfolio art teacher who she goes to when she needs a second opinion and critiquing. She says that “If people tell you how you need to fix things, you’re never gonna learn to fix it yourself.” She values self education and helping others.
The motivation behind the minds of student innovators vary. From simply wanting to “…get better at playing baseball,” through building a pitcher’s mound, Gavin Holmes (‘26) uses his hands and skills for self improvement. Or doing what you do just because you love it. Addison Lynch (‘25) draws architecture, sculpts, and makes figures and models of people. She creates not for recognition, but purely for herself, “I love it, so I keep doing it.”
Not to mention the general importance and impact student innovators have on the people they surround. These students are the growing generation with immense potential and eagerness to learn more. The face of advancement starts in their hands. Making the world a better place voluntarily and manually, is truly a gift. While no single person can change the world overnight, it’s the small, meaningful steps taken by young innovators like these that set the foundation for a better future. From the deeper meaning of fabrication, to the general impact innovating has on the world, it doesn’t matter what you invent, it’s why you do it.
