In January 2022, Attorney William G. Pagán was a guest lecturer for three sections of an “Inventions and Innovations” class at Elko Middle School in Henrico County, Virginia. The class, taught by Technology Education Teacher Kennesha Walker, was intended (among other things) to expose middle school children to various intellectual property concerns associated with devising inventive solutions and bringing them to the marketplace. Students were tasked with coming up with an innovative new product or service, coming up with a brand, and pitching their ideas. During lecture, Attorney Pagán spoke to the various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines involved in tackling the toughest aspects of the students’ chosen field, and encouraged students to work toward tackling some of the most ambitious problems associated therewith.
Elko Middle School services approximately 800 children in grades 6 through 8 just outside of Richmond, VA. Henrico County is a seat of leadership in the banking industry, with firms like Capital One, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo being among its top employers.
“Preparing these children with an early understanding of intellectual property will be a competitive advantage when they pursue employment in a jobs market focused on return on investment, such as that in the greater Richmond area,” said Attorney Pagán. “Often, it is the intellectual property portfolio of a venture that allows investors to recoup their investments, even when there are difficulties in productization. I applaud Henrico County Public Schools for taking creative steps toward introducing these concepts to children this early.”