For the second consecutive year, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is pleased to have received a generous donation from Ofinno in support of the popular Smithsonian Science Summer School (S4) program. A research and development lab based in Reston, Virginia, Ofinno believes in empowering the next generation of new technology developers and users through education, and the S4 program aligns perfectly with this belief.
SSEC launched the inaugural S4 program in the summer of 2018, in affiliation with Horizons Greater Washington, a summer enrichment program for economically disadvantaged K–12 students in the Washington, DC Public School System. This robust science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)+Arts education program pairs SSEC’s K–8 primary and middle school curriculum with the breadth and depth of the Smithsonian collections. Although the 2020 program was completely virtual, the 2021 program is slated to deliver a high impact, immersive experience—both online and in-person—to approximately 90 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Title I schools. SSEC recently provided Horizons’ teachers and support staff with professional development training surrounding the fourth- and fifth-grade curricula, respectively: “How Can We Provide Energy to People’s Homes? and “What is Our Evidence We Live on a Changing Earth?”
“Supporting S4 is a perfect blend at the heart of Ofinno—STEM-based work—as well as Ofinno’s mindset for giving back to the community,” said Ofinno Chief Operating Officer Steve Gion. “There are many worthwhile programs, but the S4 program is unique. And you never know—one day an S4 participant could end up working at Ofinno!”
The Smithsonian Science Education Center is delighted to continue its rewarding and productive collaboration with Ofinno.
About the Smithsonian Science Education Center
The mission of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), formerly the National Science Resources Center, is to transform and improve the learning and teaching of science for K–12 students. The SSEC is nationally and internationally recognized for the quality of its programs and its impact on K–12 science education.
About Horizons Greater Washington
Horizons Greater Washington is an award-winning, tuition-free academic and enrichment program serving students from under-resourced communities in Washington, DC and Maryland.
About Ofinno, LLC
Ofinno, LLC, is a research and development lab based in Northern Virginia, that specializes in inventing and patenting future technologies. Ofinno’s research involves video and communication technologies, including 5G and 6G Radio and Core networks, video compression technologies and transport. Ofinno’s inventions have an impressive utilization rate and have been adopted by the standards at the center of advancement of these technologies. Our innovators not only create the technologies, they oversee the entire process from design to the time the technology is sold. For more information about Ofinno, please visit www.ofinno.com.
If you want to learn more about the Smithsonian Science Summer School (S4) program, go to: https://ssec.si.edu/smithsonian-science-summer-school.
Read more at https://ssec.si.edu/smithsonian-science-summer-school
