Women in STEM

In partnership with FRC Team 5962 we host a biannual Women in STEM event which allows girls grades 7 to 12 to interact and connect with female engineers and engineering students from around the area. Through hands-on, fun workshops, girls can see just how fun STEM can be. The event is free to registrants and lunch is generously provided by UMass Lowell. We have had 6 events so far from our first event in 2016 with 12 girls and our last one had 50 girls in attendance.

At the event the students do activities learning mechanical, electrical, software and leadership skills. Activities range from candy dispensers, wooden catapults, altoid tin flashlights and learning how to design a website. We have a question and answer panel during the events for the attendees to interact and connect with female engineers.

We host the event at UMass Lowell in Lawrence Lin Makerspace, which is 102 Falmouth Hall.

English Language Learners in STEM

We’ve noticed that it can be challenging for local immigrant and refugee students to access engineering electives and activities while adjusting to a new country, language, and lifestyle. We have held an after-school event for those students, helping them assemble and solder parts to make an Altoid tin flashlight. For this event MVR provides funding and supplies for the students to do these activities. Team 5962 students guide these students during the activities.

Cub Scouts

MVR and Team 5962 worked with our local Cub Scouts Den to help them earn there robot achievement badge. We talked to them about FIRST and STEM and then helped them make a robot using the We Do 2.0 Kits. With the kits we provided we taught them about how robots are used in the workplace and with our help they made a robot hand. MVR provides funding, the We Do 2.0 Kits and other supplies to help the Cub Scouts create there robots.

Lowell Spinners

Each summer we host a STEM night at a Lowell Spinners Baseball game. During this event we introduce passerby’s to FIRST and the several programs we offer locally. We do this event in partnership with FRC Team 5962. They let kids drive their robots. In the past years 5962's robot has thrown the first pitch at the Lowell Spinners baseball game. They also work with other FRC teams to spread FIRST at this event.

Dracut Old Home Day

Each year in September we have a booth at Dracut Old Home day with 5962 to spread FIRST and STEM to the students who attend there from other sports clubs. They let kids drive their robot. We introduce passerby's to our younger programs, First Lego League and First Lego League jr.

UML Engineering Hockey Night

The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) has invited us to not only host our Women in STEM event but also attend their hockey game as a part of their Engineering Week. At the event, the FRC team showcased there robot and we informed people about the wonders of FIRST and STEM.