IPO Education Foundation Announces 2025 Honorees Celebrating Innovation and Leadership in Intellectual Property

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation proudly announces its 2025 Honorees, individuals whose visionary work and leadership continue to advance innovation, protect intellectual property (IP) and drive progress in society.

IPO Education Foundation's Inventor of the Year award recognizes the world's most outstanding recent inventors and how they benefit the nation's economy and quality of life. The IP Champion award honors exceptional leadership in advocating for the value of intellectual property to stimulate the progress of innovation.

"This year's recipients embody why intellectual property matters," said Kristen Lurye, Deputy Executive Director of IPO Education Foundation. "IP fuels innovation and makes meaningful collaboration possible—especially between emerging startups and industry leaders—by giving creators the confidence to share bold ideas without fear."

This year's distinguished awardees include:

Inventors of the Year: Erin and Lee Hanson

As the founders of Guardian Sports, Erin and Lee Hanson are honored for revolutionizing athlete safety. Since 2010, the Hansons have led the development of Guardian's groundbreaking products, including the Guardian Cap, a soft-shell helmet cover now mandatory in NFL practices and used by the NCAA, PEARL lacrosse balls used in the NCAA, the LOOP headband used in soccer and more. Their work exemplifies the powerful intersection of invention, safety and sustainability in sports. The Hansons have always emphasized the importance for all new inventors to patent their ideas and make sure that their IP is protected.

"This award underscores the importance of protecting your ideas," said Hansons. "Without intellectual property, our partnership with leagues like the NCAA and NFL wouldn't have been possible. IP gave us the foundation to grow and the confidence to collaborate at the highest level. We're honored by this recognition from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and excited for what's ahead for Guardian."

IP Champions: Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) & Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

Sen. Chris Coons and Sen. Thom Tillis are acknowledged for their bipartisan leadership in protecting and advancing intellectual property rights. Their co-sponsorship of key legislation, including the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) and the PREVAIL Act, underscores their commitment to a fair, effective U.S. IP system that fosters innovation, secures global competitiveness and supports creators nationwide.

"This year's honorees exemplify the highest ideals of the intellectual property community—innovation, leadership, and unwavering dedication," said Jessica Landacre Executive Director of Intellectual Property Owners Association. "Their achievements highlight the transformative power of IP and inspire us to keep championing it as a catalyst for progress and meaningful impact."

The Hansons and Senator Coons and Senator Tillis will be honored in December for these awards.

About IPO Education Foundation:

As a subsidiary of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to educational and charitable activities designed to teach, promote and understand the value of intellectual property rights and encourage innovation. To learn more visit www.ipoef.org.

SOURCE The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation