The PiBotics Boone County Schools District High School Robotics Team has been selected by a Staples associate to receive a $3,500 grant by the Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., through a program called 2 Million & Change that allows Staples associates around the globe to direct more than $2 million in donations each year.
District Robotics Coordinator Beth Koch says, “Our program encourages the collaboration of students and technical mentors from a wealth of local organizations, enabling our students to engage in networking opportunities and hands on robotics design, construction and programming with industry experts. Students actively participate in a myriad of roles which define the PiBotics Team, including design, engineering, maintenance, marketing, operations, coaching, logistics, programming and scouting. A successful season concludes with the completion of a robot which performs the challenges identified, developing students’ interest in and understanding of STEM career fields. A donation from Staples’ Foundation will be used for purchase of tools and equipment, updated technology such as a CAD station, raw materials as needed for the construction of the robot and field elements, marketing materials, and event associated expenses.”
Created in 2012, the 2 Million & Change program is a philanthropic initiative which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations focused on academic education or job skills. The program encourages local community engagement by awarding larger grants to organizations where associates are highly engaged in volunteering or fundraising – up to $25,000 per organization.
In 2015, Staples awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 875 local organizations in support of education and job skills programs, including job readiness for homeless individuals, career exploration for high school students, academic scholarships, mentoring and more.
“For 30 years, Staples associates have been making a difference in their communities around the world,” said John Burke, chief culture officer, Staples, Inc., “We’re thrilled that the 2 Million & Change program lets our associate make an even greater impact on the organizations they are passionate about.”
“The PiBotics Robotics Team is a program which enables students to work with technical, financial, business and education mentors to design and construct a commercial grade robot, program the robot microcontroller in C++, manage and fundraise for a $45,000 budget, and design marketing apparel and materials,” according to Koch.
“This fits with Staples’ focus of academic education because students participating on the team are eligible for academic credit in robot applications through a minimum 65 hours of participation and completion of a portfolio. The program also fits with Staples’ focus on job skills because students are working with industrial grade equipment and technical mentors on a team arranged as a business organization, and they acquire necessary business communication and organization qualities. At the completion of three years and participation on both the team and related online classes, the students will be eligible to take the KOSSA exam in robotics for industry certification. Additionally, through their participation in the program, students are eligible for college scholarships and technical internships.”