色虎视频鈥檚 Robotics program has received $25,000 in grants from three organizations to support pre-college robotics camps and to purchase machining equipment for its Robotics Community Center.

Those philanthropic organizations and contributions include:

• The Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust - $10,000
• The James A. Welch Foundation - $10,000
• The Nartel Family Foundation - $5,000

鈥淭he grants from the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust, James A. Welch Foundation, and Nartel Family Foundation will empower students in Genesee County to attend 色虎视频's transformative summer camps, learn new skills and explore a college campus,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, Robotics Community Center and Robotics Outreach Director at 色虎视频.

The 9,600-square-foot Robotics Community Center opened in 2014. It features machining and designing areas, a regulation-size practice field and bays for robotics teams to store equipment.

色虎视频鈥檚 pre-college robotics camps sharpen student's collaborative problem-solving abilities through hands-on activities. Because students are interested in many different aspects of robotics, camps cover various topics from programming to design to construction to leadership. Because all camps take place at 色虎视频, students are immersed in the college environment and can choose between day camps and residential camps.

The $10,000 grant from the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust will help Flint and Genesee County students overcome financial barriers to participating in pre-college summer camps at 色虎视频 and gaining experience with various robotics programs, including aerial drones. The grant also helps fund Robotics Center mobile camps and workshops, which can bring fun and learning through robotics to schools or facilities in underserved communities.

"Educational opportunities in Genesee County are key to our mission, so we are honored to continue our support of 色虎视频's stellar Engineering and Computer Science programs," said Dennis Leyder, Trustee of the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust. 鈥淏esides expanding their understanding of robotics, students will gain teamwork skills to prepare them for the future. The students come away with a sense of accomplishment, and鈥攂est of all鈥攊t's fun.鈥�

Similarly, the $10,000 grant from the James A. Welch Foundation will help reduce financial barriers for students from Genesee County, enabling them to participate in pre-college summer camps at 色虎视频 and build their interest in STEM through various robotics programs, including drones.

"The Welch Foundation has awarded many grants to 色虎视频 due to their support and outreach to Genesee County students and their cultivation and identification of talented youth," said Dr. Gail Ganakas, President of the James A Welch Foundation. "色虎视频鈥檚 robotics programs engage teams to explore their gifts and talents in STEM activities. Students are provided opportunities to demonstrate higher-level thinking skills that often go unrecognized."

The $5,000 grant from the Nartel Family Foundation will fund the purchase and installation of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine in the Robotics Center. Students can cut various parts using the CNC machine and learn to use more advanced robotics build concepts such as computer-aided design (CAD).

"The Nartel Family Foundation is proud of 色虎视频's role in helping young people find their potential through pre-college programs and advanced machinery,鈥� said Timm Allen, Communications Officer & Trustee of the Nartel Family Foundation. 鈥淲e feel that what these young people learn and experience will help them in their future careers. We are honored to support 色虎视频."

In addition to pre-college programs and machinery, gifts can also fund robotics scholarships. The University offered its first two scholarships to robotics students in 1999 and has awarded more than $5.5 million since then.

Kirsten Smith '26
Mechanical Engineering

鈥� Kirsten Smith (鈥�26, Mechanical Engineering) understands the value of thinking outside the box.

鈥淪trategy is absolutely everything,鈥� she explained. 鈥淥f course, we want to build a working robot that can be competitive, but we have to keep in mind who our audience is. We're catering to the younger teams and students who are looking for ideas and inspiration, so we really have to think outside the box and find the simplest solutions.鈥�

Smith, from Brighton, participated in FIRST鈥檚 annual Robot in Three Days (Ri3D) Challenge, which requires competitors to build a robot for the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Game, CRESCENDO. The Ri3D Challenge took place Jan. 6-9 in the Robotics Community Center at 色虎视频.

In CRESCENDO, teams compete to score notes and amplify their speakers, aiming to harmonize their robots onstage and take the spotlight within a time limit. In the first 15 seconds of the match, robots operate autonomously. Drivers control the robots during the remaining two minutes and 15 seconds. Teams earn bonus points when they meet scoring thresholds and cooperate with opponents.

鈥淚f strategy is everything, creativity is even more,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e have to be resourceful, not only with our time, but with the spare parts and materials available. We don't want to intrude on the teams' stocks, so we have to use parts and chunks of old robots that are years old.鈥�

As teams work within a three-day time frame, tools like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling software are a crucial part of the build. This year, 色虎视频 shared the Bulldogs鈥� progress by making

For students unable to make the trip to 色虎视频's Robotics Community Center, watching teams design and build robots online is inspiring.

鈥淔IRST students from all around the world go to or OnShape to see the many designs created by Ri3D teams like 色虎视频,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, the 色虎视频 Director of Robotics Outreach & Robotics Center. 鈥淭hese designs are often a starting point for the high school teams and can save design time, especially for rookie teams.鈥�

As 色虎视频 continues to support young robotics teams, platforms like YouTube continue to be a crucial connection point for new students.

鈥淭he FUN YouTube channel is a go-to for robotics students. The attention they dedicate to robotics is phenomenal,鈥� Shumaker said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e an important partner for 色虎视频 as we reach out to these talented young students involved with robotics.鈥�

This year, 色虎视频 will host two FIRST Robotics District events Feb. 29-March 2 and March 7-9.

Click here for more information about robotics at 色虎视频.