Rob and Sean Tanner entered the 2001 Rochester Invention Convention. The mission of the convention is to encourage science education for young people. Each NYS region conducts its own regional Invention Convention through judging invention disclosure forms. The disclosure form must include the problem, solution and a drawing of the invention. Once all disclosures are submitted, 80 students are selected to build a model of their invention and display it at the Rochester regional ceremony which was held on May 19.

Rob and Sean were selected to build models of their inventions. At the Rochester ceremony, 25 inventions were selected as Rochester regional finalists and invited to the state-wide Invention Convention on June 10 in Syracuse. Rob, a seventh grader at Churchville-Chili Junior High, was selected as a finalist. Sean, a fourth grader at Churchville Elementary School, was a semi-finalist. Rob, as a finalist, received a glass medallion made from recycled computer monitor screens. It is inscribed with "NY Invention Convention Finalist." Sean, as a semi-finalist, received a certificate honoring his participation.

Rob and Sean are the sons of Ken and Lynn Tanner of Spencerport.