Help Memphis Teens Get To FIRST Robotics Competition!

  • US$5,162.00
    raised of $5,000.00 goal goal
103% Funded
66 Donors
Raised offline: $50.00
Total: $5,212.00
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The clock is ticking. . . to raise $5,000 in 5 weeks.

Please help by:

  • donating any amount to this campaign
  • sharing this campaign with friends, family, and colleagues
  • asking friends to donate (and share)

We’re the Memphis Public Libraries’ Memphis-Mech Warriors, and we need to raise $5,000 to go to the FIRST Robotics competition finals in Houston this April!

There are 3,620 robotics teams world-wide registered to compete in FIRST Robotics competitions. Memphis/Shelby County has 4 teams competing. One of those teams is us… the Memphis Mech-Warriors, the only community-based team. Unlike school-based teams, we’re based out of the Memphis Public Libraries’ CLOUD901 teen learning center where any student in the city can participate.

The Memphis Mech-Warriors have 15 team members from 7 schools, plus 3 home-schools. We are comprised of 6 girls and 9 boys, we’re 70% African American (representative of the Memphis population). The Mech-Warriors plan to compete regionally in Peoria, IL and Knoxville, TN before going to the national competition in Houston, TX in April.

“We want to go to Houston whether we place or not - and we plan to place!” says Memphis-Mech Warriors!

Our goal is to raise $11,300 for:

  • Renting 2 passenger vans to transport the team (+7 adults; staff/mentors) = $2,000
  • Hotel rooms (8 x 5 nights @ $150/night) = $6,000
  • Food (for 22 people @ $30/day = $660/day x 5 days) = $3,300

Total = $11,300

We have a donor who will match up to $5,000!

The team also received grants from FedEx, AZO, Grainger, and Snap-On Tools, but it's not enough to cover all costs. We have spent a lot of time preparing, and we're ready to compete!

Background – Robotics help Memphis teens learn 21st century skills like collaboration, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. Without CLOUD901 and this team, we would not have the opportunity to participate in high level tech programs. Robotics is just one of the many digital and tech skills teens can learn at the Memphis Public Libraries.

According to 2017 TNReady (State of TN), the percentage of Shelby County School students considered on track or advanced in math was only 9.7 percent. According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, vs. other occupations at 9.8%. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. It is clear that most jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. Without adequate STEM programming, students simply do not have the tools to be competitive in academic achievement or workforce readiness.

Robotics teams are expensive! Most public and even private schools cannot afford to field a team. But the lessons teens are learning from competing in robotics are transformative and lasting. Take a look at this creative parody video, filmed at the Library's teen lab, CLOUD901. CLOUD901 students, with the help of the library staff, wrote, recorded, and filmed it for viewing at the many FIRST events throughout the season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbji2NfhYa0.

Meet Solomon!


“Robotics has taught me more about leadership and teamwork. Robotics has taught me Gracious Professionalism. If you see somebody needing help, you go and help without expecting anything in return.”

Solomon Watkins, 17-year-old homeschool student, team member of Memphis Mech-Warriors

Organizer

Donors

  • Two Twinkling Stars
  • Donated on Mar 01, 2018
$12.00
  • Marion Anderson
  • Donated on Feb 28, 2018
  • Go Memphis MechWarriors' Robotics. We are extremely proud of each and everyone of you. Good luck and represent Memphis, TN well! -The Anderson Family Willie A., Marion A., Lisa A., Tanya A., and Little Marion A. In memory of Kara V. Langston-Hykes.A

$100.00
$20.00
Mar 01

Memphis Mech-Warriors are determined!

Update posted by Memphis Library Foundation at 03:50 pm

These teens are working hard to raise the necessary funds to compete. Let's keep at this... we're at $12,200 and every amount helps! GO MEMPHIS MECH-WARRIORS!

See update
0
Feb 15

Over half way there!

Update posted by Memphis Library Foundation at 04:10 pm

This campaign started just 3 weeks ago tomorrow and we're over half way there!We've raised $3,100 of our $5,000 goal! This campaign ends 2 weeks from today. Please consider sharing so that others may donate! Let's get these teens to competition...

See update
0

Donors & Comments

66 donors
  • Two Twinkling Stars
  • Donated on Mar 01, 2018
$12.00
  • Marion Anderson
  • Donated on Feb 28, 2018
  • Go Memphis MechWarriors' Robotics. We are extremely proud of each and everyone of you. Good luck and represent Memphis, TN well! -The Anderson Family Willie A., Marion A., Lisa A., Tanya A., and Little Marion A. In memory of Kara V. Langston-Hykes.A

$100.00
$20.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Feb 25, 2018
  • You guys will do amazing ! Go get 'em and show them what Memphis is made of !!!

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Feb 25, 2018
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Feb 23, 2018
Amount Hidden
  • Pat Lampley
  • Donated on Feb 23, 2018
  • This sounds like a wonderful learning program for our young people. Go Memphis and good luck in the competition.

$100.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Feb 23, 2018
Amount Hidden
  • S Albert
  • Donated on Feb 23, 2018
  • Good skill!

Amount Hidden
  • Darnell McCurdy
  • Donated on Feb 23, 2018
  • We are all so proud of the work you have done to get to this point. Go show the world what you all are capable of!

$100.00
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Followers

16 followers
Marion Anderson
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Pat Lampley
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US$5,162.00
raised of $5,000.00 goal
103% Funded
66 Donors
Raised offline: $50.00
Total: $5,212.00