AUBURN HILLS — The Chrysler Foundation announced $5,000 grants to 36 Michigan high school teams in the FIRST Robotics competition, and $750 grants to six FIRST Tech Challenge middle school teams.
The grants were among $230,000 grants to 47 teams in Arizona, Illinois and Indiana in addition to Michigan.
Since 1995, the Chrysler Foundation has awarded more than $2.3 million in grants to FIRST programs.
Students share their FIRST experiences in this YouTube video, http://youtu.be/IppTdkRcoXs.
“Chrysler Group’s ability to compete and succeed in the future depends in part upon our ability to maintain the pipeline of students that pursue STEM math) careers,” said John Nigro, who leads product development in the NAFTA region for Chrysler Group LLC. “The real-world experience that students gain through their participation in FIRST is invaluable in preparing students for the future.”
The Chrysler Foundation grants will enable an estimated 1,100 middle and high school students to participate in regional and district competitions. Subsequently, The Chrysler Foundation will award a total of $21,000 in grants to teams that advance to the 2015 FIRST Championship, scheduled for April 22-25 in St. Louis, MO.
“The Chrysler Foundation is proud to play a role in helping students discover the rewards and excitement of education and careers in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Jody Trapasso, senior vice president for external affairs at the Chrysler Group and president of the Chrysler Foundation. “We are equally proud of our employees who generously give their time and skills to help mentor students and serve as competition coordinators.”
The Michigan teams awarded $5,000 grants were as follows:
* Almont High School – Shock and Awe-sum, 4961
* Ann Arbor Huron High School – The RatPack, 830
* Berkley, Hazel Park and Shrine Catholic High Schools – Da Bears, 247
* Birmingham Seaholm and Birmingham Groves High Schools – Automation Nation, 2960
* Bishop Foley Catholic High School (Madison Heights) – The Foley Freeze, 910
* Bloomfield Hills High School – Bionic Black Hawks, 2834
* Brandon and Holly High Schools – Truck Town Thunder, 68
* Capac Community Schools – Metal and Soul, 2604
* Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School (Marine City) – RoboSapiens, 4779
* Chelsea High School – Technical Difficulties, 1502
* Dundee High School – Dundee Vi-Borgs, 4395
* Genesee Robotics Area Youth Team (Fenton) – GRAYT, 1322
* Goodrich High School – Martians and More Martians, 494 and 70 (The teams will share a single $5,000 grant)
* Grand Blanc High School – EngiNERDs, 2337
* Hartland High School – Electro Eagles, 3536
* Imlay City High School – Spartronics, 5048
* Lake Orion High School – The Dragons, 302
* Lapeer County Ed-Tech – Galaktech Invaders, 3535
* Linden High School – RoboEagles, 3568
* Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada) – Fighting Pi, 1718
* Marysville High School – ViBots, 5167
* Notre Dame Preparatory (Auburn Hills) – Killer Bees, 33
* Oakland Tech Northeast (Pontiac) – The Juggernauts, 1
* OSMTech Academy at Clarkston High School – Team RUSH, 27
* Our Lady of the Lakes High School (Waterford) – Lakers, 5053
* Oxford Community Schools (Oxford) – TORC, 2137
* Pontiac High School – The Wings of Fire, 51
* Rochester Adams and Stoney Creek High Schools (Rochester Hills) – Adambots, 245
* Rochester High School (Rochester Hills) – The FEDS, 201
* Skyline High School (Ann Arbor) – Eagle Imperium, 3322
* South Lake High School (St. Clair Shores) – The Mighty CavBots, 5214
* South Lyon Community Schools and South Lyon Robotics – The Flying Toasters, 3641
* Southeastern High School of Technology (Detroit) – JungleBots, 4851
* Stevenson, Henry Ford II and Utica High Schools – Crevolution, 2851
* Walled Lake Schools – The Monsters, 308
* Warren Consolidated Schools – Steel Armadillos, 818
* Waterford Kettering High School – The Captains, 3098
The FIRST Tech Challenge teams that got $750 grants were:
* Bloomfield Hills Middle School – Mechanical Monkeys, 7047
* Home Middle School (Fenton) – Lightning Boltz, 5954 * Life Learning Community School (Ann Arbor) – The GearCats, 7305
* Linden Middle School – Battle Blazers, 7031 * Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford) – OLL Laker Bots, 8133
Additionally, FIRST in Michigan will receive a $2,500 grant to support its FIRST LEGO League program, which introduces students in grades 4-8 to the fun and excitement of science and technology.
The Chrysler Foundation, the charitable arm of Chrysler Group LLC, focuses its support on four key areas: Education: K-12 and post-secondary education initiatives that encourage the study and pursuit of careers in business, design, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or supply-chain management; Military: support for the nation’s service members and their families in need; Multicultural and Diversity: initiatives that promote inclusion and advancement opportunities for diverse populations; and Youth Development: organizations and programs that provide mentoring and related assistance to aid youth in the transition to adulthood.
Since its inception in 1953, The Chrysler Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants.