The prowess and expertise of budding young engineers in Michigan's Great Southwest will be put to the challenge in more ways than one over the next couple of weeks. Their first hurdle will be a financial one, and then they're back into the trenches for the World Finals of the FIRST Robotics competition in St. Louis. Fortunately, they have the keen interest of the innovation community at Whirlpool Corporation to help get them there.
Three outstanding teams have emerged from local, regional and state competition to earn trips to the World Finals from April 27th through the 30th in Missouri, but they have the daunting challenge of raising in excess of $10,000 each in order to get there. Whirlpool Corporation is doing its best to help that effort by issuing a$15,000 Community Challenge Grant, and the young engineers involved on the local front are hopeful that other sectors of the local business and philanthropic community will help as well.
After competing against 102 other Michigan teams in the State Championship in Grand Rapids last weekend, three local teams have emerged to battle on at the World Finals. They are:
- GreengineerZ from Berrien Springs Public Schools
- Average Joes from St. Joseph High School
- Team Excel which is a team of home-schooled students from Niles
The three teams now have barely a week to raise the money to cover the travel costs including buses, hotels, food and the like as well as fees for the World Competition. Whirlpool's Challenge Grant will match funds raised up to $15,000 by all three teams. The intention of the Challenge Grant is to ensure that all three teams raise their needed funds so each team has agreed to share any excess grant money between them.
The concept is very much in keeping with Co-opertition, a term coined by FIRST competitions. Co-opertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. It is founded on the concept and a philosophy that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other even as they compete. It involves learning from teammates. It is teaching teammates. It is learning from Mentors. And, it is managing and being managed.
Students involved with the three teams will be forging various fundraisers throughout the community, and direct donations can be made by area residents and other local companies. Whirlpool Corporation has supported the FIRST Robotics program for half-a-dozen years now, encouraging students to pursue interests in areas of STEM education — science, technology, engineering and math.
Whirlpool employees have provided thousands of volunteer hours to FIRST Robotics, other sponsorship support and tool chests for multiple rookie teams over the last three years through the Gladiator GarageWorks brand.
FIRST is an international non-profit K-12 organization that designs programs to encourage young people to pursue their interest in STEM through education and career opportunities. The program offers nearly $25-million in college scholarships to top champion teams.
Funds can be sent directly to local teams as follows:
GreengineerZ
Berrien Springs Public Schools
One Sylvester Ave
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
Att: Frank Gonzalez Robotics
Checks should be made out to “Berrien Springs High School Robotics”
Average Joes
St. Joseph High School
2521 Stadium Drive
St. Joseph MI 49085
Attn: Robotics Team
Checks should be made out to “St. Joseph Public Schools”
Niles Team Excel
1930 S 3rd
Niles, MI 49102
Attn: Robotics Team
Checks should be made out to “SMART”
