TEAM 2960 OUTREACH
Applying the FIRST Core Value of IMPACT
FIRST exists to prepare the young people of today for the world of tomorrow. Team 2960 students take the skills they learn and give back in a variety of ways. We are especially committed to helping grow the STEM program district-wide, supporting the women in STEM movement, and partnering with adults with disabilities to support their microbusiness endeavors.
Giving Back & Growing the Love of Robotics
The Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Birmingham Public Schools. The BEF is also one of Team 2960's largest sponsors. This fall, Team 2960 teamed up with the BEF to showcase robotics as a way to help solicit donations to the BEF. Our FLL, FTC, and our FRC team made it to almost every school in the district to show how BEF dollars go to work helping students grow their potential and their imagination.
Providing Support for Aspiring Female Engineers - BPS Girls in STEM
Automation Nation has partnered and mentored the Birmingham Public School's Girls in STEM program since 2019. Girls in STEM is a club that welcomes middle school girls from all of Birmingham's schools. Annually, Team 2960 invites the program to our lab for an evening of engineering. Students learn about CAD and using a laser printer, the girls all gain experience using power tools, and all have an opportunity to drive a robot.
We also host the Girls in STEM program during our OCCRA season. The girls come to Seaholm High School to watch our competition, have lunch with the team, and hear from female engineers.
Later in the school year, the Girls in STEM program invites our students to help run a Jimu robot-building event. During the Jimu Robot event, Team 2960 students spend time mentoring middle school girls as they get to experience building a robot for the first time.
Supporting the Next Generation
Students from Team 2960 provide technical support to our growing group of Middle School FIRST Technical Challenge Students. We also help our Middle School teams host and run a tournament.
Partnering with the BATP
The BATP (Birmingham Adult Transition Program) is a unique school for adults with mild cognitive impairments, autism, or other developmental disabilities between the ages of 18-26. Students who attend the BATP must be recommended during their senior year of high school, have an IEP to participate, and not have taken their diploma upon the completion of high school. The purpose of the program is to provide continuing education in the areas of community access, pre-vocational skills, and life skills that some students need beyond high school.
Our current project involves recycling old wood into doorstops that the BATP students will beautify and sell as a part of their microbusiness enterprise.