PALMYRA TOWNSHIP -- One week ago, the leader of the free world saw first hand what students from Wallenpaupack Area High School are capable of inventing.
Corine Peifer and Kristian Sonsteby were two of the 14 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam members who showed off their wave powered electric generator at the White House Science Fair, the kind of device that can power a light on the end of a dock.
"It's incredible. Personally it's a huge honor to be invited not only to represent the team, representing your area, representing your school as well," said Sonsteby who is a senior.
The Paupack Waves InvenTeam spent more than a year working on the project, designing it, testing it and at one point even having to start over.
"It didn't work at all, we had to completely redesign it. The technical team was freaking out," said sophomore Rhiannon Bogart.
The team said PPl, which owns Lake Wallenpaupack, doesn't allow the kind of power on docks you have in your home.
Its invention may be the solution and teachers couldn't be more proud.
"They're smart, but also hard workers. It's a wonderful project, it really took off for us," said teacher Gene Shultz.
After all, Lake Wallenpaupack was man-made years ago with the intention of having it be a source of hydroelectric power which it is to this day. Those students who look out from high school windows onto the lake decided to put that power into hands of people who own docks on the lake.
"A lot of the marinas, the lighting issue, it's a safety hazard," added Sonsteby.
This might be only the beginning for Paupack Waves, a possible patent is next and perhaps a future for turning waves into light on the lake.
"This is just a taste of what we're capable of, not just as a group but individually," said Bogart.