AUBURN HILLS—The Chrysler Foundation on Tuesday announced that it is granting $40,000 in additional funding to nine Michigan high school robotics teams that will participate in the international 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, April 25-28, at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The FRC Championship is the culmination of the FRC season and includes teams from across the nation, Canada, Israel, Mexico and Taiwan.
Each of the nine teams will receive an equal share of the $40,000 grant to help offset costs associated with competing in the FRC Championship’s Rebound Rumble. At the beginning of FRC season in January, The Chrysler Foundation awarded $133,000 in grants to 22 teams (including the nine finalists). During the past 16 years, The Chrysler Foundation has awarded more than $1.7 million in grants to the FRC program and teams.
This week at the FRC championship, each team’s robot will compete by trying to score as many of the basketballs in the hoops as possible during the two-minute and 15-second match. The teams qualified to compete in the FRC Championship based either upon their performance at local and state competitions or through an open lottery.
The finalists include:
- Armada Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences, Armada
- Auburn Hills Notre Dame Preparatory School, Auburn Hills
- Seaholm / Groves High Schools, Birmingham
- Andover High School Bionic Barons, Bloomfield Hills
- OSM Tech Academy at Clarkston High School, Clarkston
- Grand Blanc High School, Grand Blanc
- Pontiac Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast
- Pontiac High School, Pontiac
- Adams / Stoney Creek High Schools, Rochester
“The Chrysler Foundation is proud to play a role in encouraging students to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Jody Trapasso, Senior Vice President – External Affairs, Chrysler Group LLC and President of The Chrysler Foundation. “Beyond exposing students to these important subjects, the FIRST Robotics Competition is exemplary at fostering the development of valuable life-skills such as leadership, team building and problem-solving.
“We wish all of the teams the best of luck as they embark on this exciting and rewarding challenge.”
