TRAK Microwave helped TDT Get to the 2009 World Championship
You can share time and resources with team members through 
corporate or personal mentoring in the areas of math,science or technology,including tours of your manufacturing or engineering firms. Or you can contribute financially.Any and all support is welcome and appreciated,and will endure far beyond team members’FTC experiences,helping give them strong foundations for high tech futures. Contributions of all sizes are very welcome and appreciated.
Donations
Donations can be made to Learning is for Everyone‘s Team Duct Tape via Network for Good. Be sure to identify that your contribution is for Team Duct Tape in the comments section of the online donation form.
Just a Dollar or Two Will Do!
Sponsorships
Donations and sponsorships of all sizes are valuable. Team 2845 is unique in its community focus. While many FIRST Tech Challenge teams are affiliated with funded public or
Showing our Love for our Sponsors
private high school programs,Team 2845 draws public,private and homeschooled team members from local neighborhoods,in an effort to make high school level science and technology more accessible.
As a community team,we must rely solely on member families and the community to meet related financial needs,such as team registration,competition kit and supplies purchases,and tournament fees. But as a community team,we’re also uniquely positioned to meet the growing science and technology education needs that will ultimately benefit our society.
High-Tech Needs,Low-tech Achievement
In Florida,in 2007,less than 30% of 8th graders tested at or above proficiency in math;average ACT math and science scores were below the national average;and less than 40% of high school graduates were prepared for college level algebra.Florida’s K-12 STEM ED Report Card,
This,despite the fact that of the 30 fastest-growing occupations projected through 2016,according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook,more than half will require substantial Mathematics or Science preparation.
Limited STEM Options in Odessa,FL
Odessa comprises a large rural area covering 40 square miles across both Hillsborough and Pasco Counties,with a population of about 14,000 people.While median home prices are high,median household income is solidly middle class at the lower threshold of $45,864 annually,and nearly 50% of students in both counties qualifying for free or reduced lunch programs.
There are just seven high schools in the two counties that are within a five or six mile “neighborhood” radius,and none of them offer extracurricular science and technology programs. The only two technology magnet schools in Hillsborough County Hillsborough and Middleton High Schools – are more than 15 miles away,and each is already filled with district students.Additionally,all the local high schools show minimal proficiency in science,with less than 50% of students in most schools meeting expected standards (Florida Department of Education School Accountability Report,2007) Private programs are also inaccessible. And homeschooled students,of which there are over 3000 in Hillsborough county alone,have even fewer science and technology options available to them at the high school level. In short:There are no local robotics clubs or programs in Odessa;there are no local school-based options for affordable higher level computer and science classes or groups,and therefore,there are no accessible technology programs or activities for high schoolers in our community.
What FIRST Tech Challenge Team 2845 Brings to Our Community
FIRST,which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”,is a robotics competition founded by inventor Dean Kamen. The goal of the FIRSTTM program
TDT mentoring other youth in engineering
is to give students interesting,applicable hands-on experience working with educators,scientists and engineers in way that makes science and technology as exciting,inspiring and rousing as sports competitions.
Supporting Team 2845 offers many benefits to the community it represents:
- By helping defray team costs,more students are encouraged to be part of the team without incurring additional expenses to already cash-strapped families;
- Community youth will have an opportunity to learn science,math and technology skills and information not available to most of them in their local schools;
- Youth will not only learn engineering and design skills,but will also develop leadership,business,public speaking,coaching,and communication skills.
- Youth participating in FIRST Tech Challenge programs become eligible for college scholarships,and,most important,
- Youth will be exposed to myriad opportunities for education and careers that might otherwise remain hidden from them.
Additionally,supporting a community based team will enable us to establish ourselves more permanently,and allow us to concentrate on generating enthusiasm and interest in community level science,math and robotics that will hopefully inspire the creation of other community based teams in coming years.
Raising a scientifically and technologically literate generation should be of utmost importance in our society at all levels,not just in special public schools or in private schools.Inspiring youth at the community level will bring us closer to Dean Kamen’s transformative vision of“a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.”
Achievements to Date
TDT Ready to Rock!
As we enter our fourth season,we’re proud of our achievements as a community team,bringing STEM education and hands-on experience to youth who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
- We’ve introduced a dozen students,from five different public schools,three private schools and homeschools,to robotics for the very first time.
- Four of them went to the World Championship in their very first season with us –or rather,they helped take us there!
- All our new applicants this season are also new to FIRST.
- We’re heading into the new season with all of last season’s non-graduating members,now TDT veterans.
- All of our graduated members are now in college,at least three in engineering programs.
We feel we’ve made a positive impact on our students,and in our community,and look forward to strengthening our
Team Duct Tape at the 2009 FIRST World Championship in Atlanta
connections and friendships with our mentors and sponsors in the new season.
As a community team,community support and corporate sponsorship and donations remain vital to our ability to provide our students with necessary robotics supplies and materials,and to pay for FIRST competition related fees and expenses. The LEGO Engineering camps team members taught during the summer helped raise money for the team,but funds are needed throughout the competition season.
Your tax deductible donation to Learning is for Everyone ,Team Duct Tape’s parent sponsor,will help TDT inspire a new group of students to take interest in math,science,engineering and technology,and to pursue their interest beyond their high school years.
- $100 can help pay for a new year of software licensing,or 3 DC motors,or 4 servos,or one competition entry fee
$200 can help pay for the above,and a new generation NXT Rechargeable DC lithium ion polymer battery and charger - $300 can help pay for software licensing for a year plus the new season Resource Kit that includes a selection of TETRIX metals,two additional DC motors ,a Logitech joystick controller,rechargeable MINDSTORMS NXT ,a touch sensor and Wi-Fi module or the entry fee to the State Championship
- $400 or more will help us pay licensing and competition entry fees,purchase parts,buy new team shirts for new students,tools and a new tool and parts cabinet.
Donors giving at least $100 will be highlighted on our Sponsor page on our website. Donations of $200 or more are recognized on both our website and on the Robot,as well as in media and promotional materials.
And mentoring and professional guidance is just as valuable! If you can spend some time with Team Duct Tape during the season,we’d deeply value your time and expertise.You’re welcome to visit us at meetings and practices,and we’re happy to come out to visit your organization or company to share our love of FIRST robotics.
Please email us at info@learningis4everyone.org if you’d like to be part of the Team Duct Tape team!
