K’NEX Awards Three Grand Prize Winners $5,000 in Annual K’NEXpert Search Building Contest

K’NEX Brands, the only U.S. construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love®, has chosen the winners of its 2013 K’NEXpert Search. The K’NEXpert Search is an annual, nationwide building contest that asks kids ages 5-12 to design an ultra-creative, original model made entirely out of K’NEX pieces.

Three Grand Prize winners and seven finalists were chosen from three age categories. As Grand Prize Winners, Sarah from Sadler, TX (5-6 year-old age group); Seth from Windthorst, TX (7-8 year-old age group) and Mark from Naperville, IL (9-12 year-old age group) will each be awarded $5,000 and a $500 knex.com shopping spree. The seven finalists, who will each be awarded $500 and a $250 knex.com shopping spree, are: Daniel, age 6, from Perkasie, PA; Kimber, age 6, from Plano, TX; Charlie, age 8, from Scottsdale, AZ; Rebekah, age 8, from Sadler, TX; Melissa, age 12, from Plano, TX; Jordan, age 12, from Telford, PA; and Patrick age 12, from Chippewa Lake, OH.
The Three Grand Prize winners will also visit the K’NEX headquarters in Hatfield, PA on November 30th. As guests of K’NEX president Michael Araten, the winners will receive their award checks, enjoy a lunch with K’NEX designers and take a private factory tour. Their award-winning models will be displayed at K’NEX headquarters.
“The K’NEXpert contest is the highlight of our year,” said K’NEX President Michael Araten. “K’NEX fans consistently surpass our expectations with their creativity and innovation, building elaborate works of art that wow even our toy designers. We’re proud to have the current winners represent K’NEX in 2013.” he said.

The Grand Prize-winning builds are truly impressive.
Six-year-old Sarah built an inviting chair which she affectionately named “My Own Little Work Chair”. Sarah’s build is durable enough for her to sit on and even includes a “laptop”!


Eight-year-old Seth built “Grandpa’s Farm”, a recreation of his grandfathers’ dairy farm. His build, which includes a barn with silo, milk truck, tractor, windmill, dairy cows and more, is made from over 3,000 pieces!



Mark, age 12, built a fully functioning chess set! Made from 780 K’NEX pieces Mark says this is the most fun creation he has ever made.




A panel of judges comprised of K’NEX employees selected the semi-finalists followed by a public, online vote to determine the 10 winners. Ultimately, Joe Smith, Senior Vice President of Development at K’NEX chose the three grand prize winners.

The annual K’NEXpert search is open to U.S. residents and no purchase is necessary. For more information on K’NEX, the contest or its winners log on to http://www.knex.com/club/knexperts-2013.php