2024 News

Elevating Innovation Education: The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Partners with Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School STEM Fest

March 29th, 2024
By Lauren Parker

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is proud to announce its newest collaboration as the official Title Sponsor and Award Presenter for the Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School STEM Fest! This partnership marks a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering innovation education in our community. Our IGNITE Education Program recently had the privilege of leading a morning of professional development in invention education ahead of the STEM Fest.

Madeline Stoddard, Education and Community Outreach Coordinator, and Jamie Spurrier, Program Manager, provided invaluable insights over the course of the session designed to empower incredible Patel educators to cultivate an innovation mindset and support the school’s project-based learning methodologies.

Madeline Stoddard (left) and Jamie Spurrier (right) imparting invention education to Patel High School teachers.

The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the Shark Tank-style pitch session, where the educators were challenged with creating a new invention by combining two hilariously unrelated patents. They showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills with presentations, ranging from portable sonogram machines to a digital termite locator. It was remarkable to witness the ingenuity and agility of these educators as they developed and presented their novel inventions within a matter of minutes. This activity exemplifies our commitment at the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame to empower educators to develop an innovation mindset thereby inspiring and guiding their students toward innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

One group of Patel High School teachers showcasing their inventions in a Shark Tank-style pitch!

 At the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, we are passionate about recognizing and celebrating the creative potential within every individual. Collaborating with events like the Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School STEM Fest allows us to further our mission of inspiring innovation and fostering a culture of creativity in education through our IGNITE Education Program.  We are excited to continue our partnership with STEM Fest and look forward to empowering more educators and students to explore the boundless possibilities of invention education. Together, we can ignite a passion for invention and pave the way for a brighter, more inventive future.