Maryland FTC Team Grants

Due to the Maryland Tech Invitational's outstanding sponsors and the fact that the MTI is run by volunteers, occasionally the MTI does not use all of the team registration fees to cover operating expenses.   When this occurs, the extra funds are turned into grants to support Maryland FIRST Tech Challenge teams.  

Grants for the FTC POWERPLAYSM Season, 2022-2023

Eight Maryland FTC teams have been awarded grants to cover their team's $300 registration fee for the FIRST Cheseapeake FIRST Tech Challenge Championships that took place on February 11, 2023.   

Congratulations to the following teams:

1. 2818 G-FORCE of Accident, MD

2. 6417 Blu Cru of Rockville, MD - Second Pick of the Winning Alliance. Progresses to the top in-season FTC competition,  FIRST Championship!

3. 7393 electronVolts of Ashton, MD - Third Inspire Award winners. Progresses to FIRST Championship!

4. 13100 47 Beavers of Germantown, MD

5. 18442 Gear Rotation of Marriottsville, MD

6. 19458 Equilibrium.exe of Potomac, MD, Second Inspire Award winners. Progresses to FIRST Championship!

7. 21587 Orca Robotics of Potmac, MD

8. 21814 Robots on Roids of Gaithersburg, MD

Additionally, this season the TechAction Foundation donated $500 to help cover the cost of the Laurel, MD FTC Qualifier, January 21, 2023.  There were not enough events to provide two competitions for the number of FTC teams in our area.  A vital part of the FTC learning experience is the iterative process.  The Laurel Qualifier was added but there was a budget shortfall that could have prevented it from taking place.  TechAction filled in the funding gap and provided volunteers to run the 28 team event. 

Previous Grants:

TechAction Foundation provided the following grants for the FTC SKYSTONESM Season, 2019-2020:

1. A $3,000 grant to FTC Team 13766 The Omegas.  Team 13766 is a 4-H team out of Somerset County Maryland.  The team had some significant funding challenges.  Unfortunately, one of their main sponsors was not in a position to provide their robotics grants this year.  Due to the team's remote location they have more travel expenses than the majority of MD FTC teams.  TechAction was happy to step up to make sure this young team of 13 students and 5 mentors are able to continue their FTC program. 

2. A $3,000 grant and a goBILDA Master FTC Robotics Kit to Silver Oak Academy to start an FTC robotics program on their campus!  Silver Oak Academy in Carrol County, Maryland provides a diverse continuum of care with evidence-based programs in education, youth shelter programs, family and community aftercare and intensive treatment for youth involved in the juvenile justice system  (https://silveroakacademy.com/about-us/).   We are very excited to help bring the life changing benefits of the FIRST Tech Challenge experience to these students.