Download Print FCA Foundation Energizes Michigan Robotics Teams With More Than $226,000 in Grants 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 January 7, 2017 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - 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. FCA Foundation The FCA Foundation is the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. The FCA Foundation invests in U.S. charitable organizations and initiatives that help empower people, build strong, resilient communities and generate meaningful and measurable societal impacts. In support of these objectives, the FCA Foundation focuses on the following foundational pillars: youth development, education, support for military, veterans and their families, and community service.