AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
- Grants enable 57 teams, nearly 1,300 middle and high school students, to participate in STEM-building robotics
programs
- FIRST in Michigan awarded grant to support First Lego League program
The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, today awarded more than $226,000 in grants to 57 Michigan robotics teams and programs. The grants, ranging from $400 to $4,725, will help 1,300 middle and high school students offset the costs, i.e. registration fees, parts
and materials and team apparel associated with competing in STEM-building FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) programs. FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and
participation in science and technology.
"The long-standing commitment and engagement FCA US has with FIRST is embodied by the
dedication of our employees who give generously of their time and skills to help mentor students and serve as competition
coordinators," said Lesley Slavitt, Head of Civic Engagement, FCA US LLC and CEO of the FCA
Foundation. "It is a continuing privilege to ensure their hard work and steadfast contributions support and further positive
outcomes for youth in our communities."
FCA US employs more than 35,000 people in the state of Michigan.
Under strict rules, limited resources and an intense six-week time limit, FRC teams (25+ members, grades 9-12) are challenged
to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, build, and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult game
against like-minded competitors. Similarly, FTC teams (10+ members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and
operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge.
Details of the 2017 FRC season challenge, FIRST® STEAMWORKSSM, will be revealed on Saturday, January 7, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
EST – the official start of the design and build season. Teams that attend "local" kickoff events will have the opportunity to compare notes, get ideas, make friends, find mentoring teams,
learn the game, pick up the Kickoff Kit from the Kit of Parts and get geared up for the exciting competition season.
Both the FRC and FTC programs will conclude their respective seasons with FIRST Championships in April.
"The real-world experience that students gain through their participation in FIRST programs is invaluable in preparing
students for the future," said Phil Jansen, Head of Product Development, FCA – North America. "We are proud
to partner with an organization that taps into such formidable minds and encourages deeper levels of ingenuity."
The FCA Foundation also awarded First in
Michigan, the state's robotics association, a $1,500 grant to support its First Lego League
(FLL) program. FLL teams (up to 10 members, grades 4-8) research a real-world problem, such as food safety, recycling, energy,
etc., and are challenged to develop a solution using LEGO MINDSTORMS®.
Michigan: FIRST Robotics Competition Teams awarded a $4,725
grant from the FCA Foundation:
|
School(s)
|
Team No.
|
Team Name
|
|
Almont High School
|
4961
|
Shock and Awe-sum
|
|
Avondale High School (Auburn Hills)
|
3538
|
RoboJackets
|
|
Berkley High School & Hazel Park & Shrine Catholic HS
|
247
|
Da Bears
|
|
Birmingham Seaholm & Birmingham Groves HS
|
2960
|
Maple Machine
|
|
Bishop Foley Catholic High School (Madison Heights)
|
910
|
Foley Freeze
|
|
Bloomfield Hills High School
|
2834
|
Bionic Black Hawks
|
|
Brandon High School & Holly High School
|
68
|
Truck Town Thunder
|
|
Capac Community Schools
|
2604
|
Metal and Soul
|
|
Cardinal Mooney Catholic (Marine City)
|
4779
|
RoboSapiens
|
|
Carman-Ainsworth High School (Flint)
|
314
|
The Megatron Oracles
|
|
Central High School (Grand Rapids)
|
904
|
D Cubed
|
|
Detroit Catholic Central High School (Novi)
|
5907
|
CC Shambots
|
|
Dundee High School
|
4395
|
Dundee ViBots
|
|
Ferndale High School
|
1025
|
IMPIS
|
|
Genesee Robotics Area Youth Team
|
1322
|
GRAYT
|
|
*Goodrich High School
|
70, 494
|
More Martians / Martians
|
|
Grand Blanc High School
|
2337
|
EngiNERDs
|
|
Gross Ile High School
|
5498
|
Wired Devils
|
|
Hartland High School
|
3536
|
Electro Eagles
|
|
Imlay City High School
|
5048
|
Spartronics
|
|
International Academy East (Troy)
|
4384
|
Benzene Bots
|
|
Lake Orion High School
|
302
|
Dragons
|
|
Lapeer County Ed-Tech
|
3535
|
Galaktech Invaders
|
|
Linden High School
|
3568
|
Robo Eagles
|
|
Livonia Public Schools
|
2832
|
The Livonia Warriors
|
|
Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada)
|
1718
|
Fighting PI
|
|
Mercy High School (Farmington Hills)
|
1481
|
The Riveters
|
|
Notre Dame Preparatory (Auburn Hills)
|
33
|
Killer Bees
|
|
Oakland Tech Northeast (Pontiac)
|
1
|
Juggernauts
|
|
OSMTech Academy at Clarkston High School
|
27
|
Team RUSH
|
|
Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford)
|
5053
|
Lakers
|
|
Oxford Community Schools
|
2137
|
TORC
|
|
Pontiac Academy for Excellence
|
6117
|
Team Eagle
|
|
Pontiac High School
|
51
|
Wings of Fire
|
|
Rochester Adams & Stoney Creek High Schools
|
245
|
Adambots
|
|
Rochester High School
|
201
|
The Feds
|
|
Skyline High School (Ann Arbor)
|
3322
|
Eagle Imperium
|
|
South Lake High School (St. Clair Shores)
|
5214
|
Cavbots
|
|
South Lyon Community Schools & South Lyon Robotics
|
3641
|
Flying Toasters
|
|
Southeastern High School of Technology (Detroit)
|
4851
|
Jungaleers
|
|
St. Clair High School
|
5843
|
Flurb
|
|
Stevenson, Henry Ford II & Utica High Schools
(Sterling Hgts.)
|
2851
|
Crevolution
|
|
Stoney Creek High School (Rochester Hills)
|
5436
|
CyberCats
|
|
Trenton High School
|
5090
|
Torque-Nados
|
|
Walled Lake Schools
|
308
|
The Monsters
|
|
Warren Consolidated Schools
|
818
|
Steel Armadillos
|
|
Waterford Kettering High School
|
3098
|
The Captains
|
|
Michigan: FIRST Tech Challenge teams awarded a $400 grant
from the FCA Foundation:
|
|
School(s)
|
Team No.
|
Team Name
|
|
Bloomfield Hills Middle School
|
8593
|
No Limits
|
|
Goodrich Middle School
|
5289
|
Martians
|
|
Home Middle School (Fenton)
|
5954
|
Lightning Boltz
|
|
Linden Middle School
|
7031
|
Roboeaglets
|
|
*North Branch Middle School
|
7065, 7066, 7067
|
NBMS
|
|
Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford)
|
7583
|
Lakers
|
|
Oxford Middle School & Oxford Area Middle School
|
5291
|
TOWR
|
|
|
|
|
* Teams will share a grant.
About the FCA Foundation
The FCA Foundation is committed to rebalancing inequalities to promote the full realization of every human being. We
seek to support outcomes in our communities that ensure people can enjoy equality and dignity. The FCA Foundation directs its
resources toward the following areas of focus:
- Youth Development – helping young people develop the leadership qualities and resiliency necessary to succeed in
school, at work, and in life.
- Education – building the skills and competencies that lead to achievement and support educational access and
success.
- Military/Veterans – ensuring veterans successfully transition to civilian life and that the needs of military
service members and their families are supported.
- Service – leveraging the talents and contributions of all members of the community.
Note: Applications for funding are accepted by invitation only.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fca-foundation-energizes-michigan-robotics-teams-with-more-than-226000-in-grants-300387357.html
SOURCE FCA US LLC