We were honored to welcome Kathi Vidal, who serves the Nation as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property (IP) and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as she toured Assets School on Friday, June 16. Vidal’s office is also known as America’s Innovation Agency. She is the principal IP advisor to the U.S. President and the Administration.
During her visit, Vidal had the opportunity to see the incredible creativity and ingenuity of our talented students from second to sixth grade as they delved into their Camp Invention kits and embarked on designing a wide array of innovative projects. Camp Invention’s kits include cups, duck tape, cardboard, pipe cleaners, scissors, rubber bands, paper clips, and colored sticks. Each kit is designed to teach students about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a hands-on way that encourages collaboration and communication. The kits have sparked a new level of excitement and curiosity in our students.
“They are brilliant!” said Vidal about Assets’ students. “The creativity and excitement. It’s wonderful. They are learning the innovation process. How you start it, and how you plan for innovation. That it is OK to make mistakes and to innovate in different ways. It was wonderful in one of the classes to see kids approach in different ways the same problem they are trying to solve."
Camp Invention, an educational company dedicated to fostering young minds about STEM, donated 50 kits to Assets. The four themes of the kits summer school students are using are Lost Treasure, Open Mic, Road Rally, and The Attic. These kits are sparking the imagination of our young innovators and encouraging them to think outside the box. The school, which specializes in educating children who are gifted, dyslexic, or learn differently, has had a partnership with Camp Invention for many years. Prior to the pandemic, Assets held a weeklong Camp Invention.
"It’s important to get out to the schools because that’s our future,” said Vidal. “We want to make sure kids are educated on innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property.”
We are grateful for Vidal's commitment to promoting intellectual property and fostering innovation. Her visit served as a testament to the exceptional work being done at Assets School and the bright potential of our students. We couldn't be more proud of our young inventors as they explore, create, and learn in such a fun and engaging way.
Click here to read Kathi Vidal's biography.