DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – A Dothan High School senior is heading to one of the world’s largest science competitions after turning an everyday problem into a potential breakthrough.
Alexis Saffold qualified for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix this May.
She is the first Wiregrass student to make it in the program’s 75 years, according to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Saffold earned her spot by building a machine that measures exactly where a backpack strap should sit to cause the least amount of pain for each individual person.
The idea came from her own experience with backpack pain.
“I even had to go to the doctor for it and get medication prescribed. And I didn’t want other students to go through the same thing. So I said, ‘Why not make a machine that can give quantitative data?’” Saffold said.
Her invention challenges conventional wisdom about backpack ergonomics.
“So basically, it tells you what’s the best backpack strap position for a person, because it differs. Some people say the ergonomic way, which is, like, the middle, is the best way to wear it. But for some, that’s probably not it,” Saffold said.
Saffold said she didn’t see the qualification coming.
“I jumped out of my seat, and I ran down there. I was a bit flabbergasted. I was like, ‘I actually made it!’ I was shaking,” she said.
Saffold was the only student to enter the science fair in her junior year.
“I just think we’re showing everyone else that you can do this too, so everyone can invest more into STEM programs. Because I honestly think that for Dothan City Schools, like the Wiregrass area, they invest more into sports than academics,” she said.
Dean Mitchell, director of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, said the Wiregrass Innovation Center is already investing in young scientists.
“Alexis is the future. And it’s so exciting to see Alexis’ passion for science and innovation. And we want to wish her the best and let her know that we’re here to help her any way we can,” Mitchell said.
Saffold said her advice to other students is simple.
“Never let fear stop you from doing what you want. Always persevere, because I had to keep trying,” she said.
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition. Nearly 1,500 students from more than 80 countries compete for nearly $9 million in scholarships and prizes. The fair is held every May.
Saffold plans to turn her machine into an app. After graduating this spring, she will attend Auburn University at Montgomery with her sights set on MIT.
Download the WTVY News4 app to get alerts and stories the moment they are published. Available for FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WTVY. All rights reserved.