For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology FIRST Robotics Program Proposal

What is FIRST? Not-for-profit organization with the goal of encouraging students into Technology, Science and Engineering. FIRST is about building people, and tries to give all students a sense of accomplishment. Founded by Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers to change our culture’s perception of engineering education. Over 1,000 Teams from around the world. 41 Regional and International Competitions “Hardest fun ever.” “…It’s like life. You never have enough information. You never have enough time. The kit of materials may be what you have in the warehouse. There are always people doing competing things and you must have a strategy. We’ve created a microcosm of the real engineering experience.” Woodie Flowers Co-Founder FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST Robotics Competition High Schools and Corporate Sponsors working together. Identical ‘Kit of Parts’ provides primary components. Robot built from scratch, meeting real world requirements such as size (5’) and weight (120 lbs.) New game, new rules every year. In January, teams have six weeks to design, build, test, and ship. “Our solution to the growing engineering crisis is to put student and mentors in a room together, working on a seemingly impossible challenge so that we may learn and grow together. I learned more in six weeks of FIRST than in four years of college.” Jeff Martinez, Chuck 84 Mentor

Outputs and Results Real-world engineering experience. Technologically literate workforce. Inspired minds that are thinking, creating, solving. Gracious Professionalism: teamwork, helping others, making your Grandmother proud. “FIRST isn’t just about building robots, it’s about developing life skills. The kids learn skills in relationships, teamwork, finance, fundraising, budgeting and project management. The partnership between academia, the community and industry…will build our future employees and future citizens”. Steve Sanghi, President and CEO Microchip Technology

Greater Binghamton FIRST: Our Mission Promote engineering to high school students through hands on learning and FIRST to the greater Binghamton Community. Help create high quality teams that fully participates in the FIRST Robotics program. Provide an extracurricular program for local area students that further shows the commitment of Binghamton area industries and high schools to our community.

Participants: Basic Team Model Ideal Team: people Freshman to Senior High Schoolers Mentors, Teachers, Parents total Volunteers At least 5 “Engineers” A lead faculty teacher Initially five or more students and mentors recruited soon as possible before open recruitment, then be ready to run in the Six Weeks. Passion is the most key ingredient. A handful of students, engineering mentors and a teacher are needed, willing to work at least 20 hours per week during the build season. Most teams find it best to engage one major primary sponsor, Others a combination of many many small organizations, While some are build from large scale grants and donations. Some teams are made from multiple school districts, build out of a mentor machine shop, or engage local universities. Figure out what works best for you! Tips for Rookie Teams: Note: Engineer is a very broad defined term in FIRST and not limited to people with a piece of paper. Any one with problem solving skills and technical knowledge can prove to be an Engineer!

Roles and Responsibilities: Sample Organization Chart A total business experience FIRST Robotics Team Undefined “I welcome the opportunity to encourage any and everyone I meet to get involved with FIRST, as a volunteer, a mentor, or by supporting a team. The rewards are simply too immense to summarize in words…” Nicole Collazo Senior Software Engineer II, Raytheon Systems

Team Student Tracking Sign up and retention Statistical tracking of students through: High school Selection of major in college FIRST College Scholarships Initial job selection Purpose: to study the impact of the program on your students A great way to report back to your sponsors the status and improvement of your program! “...the most memorable and important part of my life in high school…being on the team proved to me the importance of teamwork in a very real and concrete way…the team provides an opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in school from many subject areas.” Ian McKenzie Woburn Robotics Team alumnus, I tell you and you forget. I show you and you remember. I involve you and you understand. Eric Butterworth

FIRST alumni were nearly seven times as likely to become Engineering majors as the average college student nationally (41% for FRC alumni vs. a national average of 6%). 89% went on to college. 77% percent of female FRC alumni went to college, 68% of African-American alumni, and 78% of Hispanic alumni FRC alumni were more than twice as likely to perform some type of volunteer service in the past year as were students in the matched comparison group (71% vs. 30%) YearTotal StudentsSeniorsDegreeFemaleMinorityLow Income 06333Comp E, Mech E, Psychology Mech E, Comp E, CS, Bus252 YearTotal StudentsSeniorsDegreeFemaleMinorityLow Income Undecided6 None High Income Area, None Reported 05301Engineering Engineering/Physics, Unknown Engineering0 YearTotal StudentsSeniorsDegreeFemaleMinorityLow Income Unknown 7-8About 6Unknown Sample: Cruzin’ Comets, Team 1143 paired with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Sample: RVR, Team 87 paired with Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems Sample: Rolling Thunder, Team 1511 paired with Harris Corporation Three previous graduates interviewed for jobs this year Facts *2005 independent study done by Brandels University

X-Cats, Team 191 paired with Xerox From Rochester, New York Two Time Chairman Award Winner Founded 1992 Xerox: a founding sponsor $750,000 over 15 years 90+% of participants enter college 16 participants in Xerox High School Intern Program 6 participants in Xerox College Co-op Program

Some Cost Estimates (One Third Registration, One Third Build, One Third Travel) General Budget:$20,000 –Summer Program: $2,500 –Regional Registration: $6,000 (includes Kit) –Team Costs:$6,000 Robot Build Cost:$3,500 Cart, Crate, Field:$1,500 Food: $1,000 –Travel:$5,500 Shirts, PR:$1,500 Bus:$2,000 Lodging:$2,000 (35 people) Note: Budget will vary. Based on the 2005 budget of Rolling Thunder, Team FIRST Recommends a minimum budget of $10,000 to $15,000. See Cost Schedule for more detail.

Funding Sources Student Fundraising:$4,500 (30 people x $150) Primary Sponsor:$10,000 ($2,000 - $20,000) High School: $0 ($0 - $5,000) Donations and Grants:$3,500 ($1,000 - $6,000) Additional Sponsors*:$2,000 ($0 - $10,000 per sponsor) $20,000 targetrange Example Donations and Grants: Tech prep through BCC and Boces, Best Buy Grant, NASA Grant, Mom and Pops Stores *Only if necessary: once budget has been reached, sponsors may be sought for additional program activities. Note: School is not expected to pay for the program rather provide a central source to build from, liability insurance for students, a source for recruitment, and additional resources or facilities such as a machine shop.

Sample Cost Schedule: Additional Regionals cost $5,000 to register in addition to bus and lodging fees. Travel to the Championship can cost over $600 per person. Many veteran programs offer summer and fall technical projects such as designing an improved drive train.

FIRST Corporate Sponsorship Benefits of being a sponsor: –Investing into tomorrow’s engineers through one to one hands-on learning where mentors typically freely give twenty hours or more per week. –Possible future employees with direct access to graduates from Clarkson University, WPI, MIT, RIT. –National media coverage and advertising opportunities. Sample Tangible Benefits: –$6,000: name identified with team –$1,000: company logo on robot –$500: name on banner, team shirt –$50: recognition on website and team picture with robot

GB FIRST: Our Vision Mentor new teams and encourage new High School FIRST programs. Network existing FIRST Robotics teams with tools to aid new teams. Help create opportunities so that all students can be involved in the FIRST Robotics Competition This has nothing to do with competing to be the best and every thing to do with creating a better, more engaged technological society! Don’t Forget: Chairman’s Award! The Chairman’s Award represents the spirit of FIRST and honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate. It remains FIRST’s for most prestigious award with national winners inducted into the FIRST Hall of Fame. Rookie teams are eligible for the All-Star Award, which presents how they inspire students.

Help Spread the Word FIRST! Contact Teachers and tell about this unique varsity sport of the mind. Call local Industries for their sponsorship and support for new area teams. Invite politicians to attend Regionals and “Off Season” Competitions. Ask teams to demo their Robot! Excite students!

Questions? Please Visit UsFIRST.org and Chief Delphi.com/forums Created by Jeff “Martinez” Martinez Chuck 84 Mentor and Engineer Videos, source materials and team contacts available upon request