Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP is pleased to sponsor once again the “Astounding Inventions” Competition at Irvine Valley College, to be held January 30, 2016. More than 450 South Orange County students in kindergarten through eighth grade will reveal their ingenious inventions in hopes of walking away with cash prizes totaling $10,000, certificates of achievement, and ribbons from the Irvine Valley College Foundation.
More than 60 judges from the scientific, education, civic, and business communities will choose the winners, basing their evaluation on each inventor’s originality, usefulness, and a written description and illustration. It will not be the first time the students’ inventions are judged – nearly 4,000 students from 40 schools shared their ideas with judges at their schools in the fall of 2015. The top 10% were chosen to move on to the January competition.
In addition, Knobbe Martens will hand-pick two inventions, one from a student in the Irvine Unified School District and one from a student in the Tustin Unified School District, based on their potential patentability. The firm will then work with the students on a pro bono basis to conduct prior art searches and write patent applications for the inventions.
"Knobbe Martens is proud to support the ‘Astounding Inventions’ competition in developing a passion for science and innovation in young students," said Knobbe Martens Partner Lance Smemoe. David Barnhill of the firm added, “Identifying inventions we think have a real chance at securing patents and making a difference in people’s lives is in line with the work we do every day for our clients – these clever inventors just happen to be younger!”
The event will be held at the college’s Hart Gymnasium and, in addition to the students’ inventions, will feature a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, displays, and demonstrations.
The schedule for the event is:
9:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Judging of student inventions
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Public viewing of student inventions
1:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony: Grade K, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
2:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony: Grades 4 and 5
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Displays and demonstrations outside of Hart Gym
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