SWE is proud to announce our collaboration with partner, FIRST Robotics, and Apple, Inc. to sponsor SWENext Clubs in a FIRST Robotics Competitions this year.
SWE has been a FIRST Strategic Alliance since 2008. “As the Executive Director and CEO of SWE, and a FIRST Board member, I am thrilled to see this funding to increase gender diversity within the FIRST community. In addition, encouraging girls within the FIRST community to be part of SWENext, provides a vital network of support as these young women develop their STEM identities” said Karen Horting, SWE Executive Director and CEO.
THE GOAL: The goal of this opportunity is to create ten new SWENext Clubs that will be official FIRST Robotics teams to promote inclusion and gender equity in a FIRST competition. Typically, startup costs for forming a team can range from $3500-$5000 for materials and activities. The goal is to provide support to offset some of the obstacles students face in starting a new team with limited access to resources.
WHAT: Through this collaboration, clubs will receive a grant to fund all their needs from registration to supplies.
WHO: Clubs can be existing robotics teams or newly formed with an interest in competing. As long as it is in accordance with FIRST guidelines, FIRST teams can even apply for reimbursement if they are already registered for a competition!
GRANT CRITERIA
- 40% must identify as female.
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75% of team members must be registered as SWENexters.
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Students must be between the ages of 13-18. Sign up for SWENext here. Enter the code: APPLEFIRST
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Team must be officially registered as a SWENext club. Sign up your club here.
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Provide a roster (first name only) of club members.
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Priority will be given to teams with less than 2 years of experience with participating in robotics competitions and more resource needs.
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Teams with 2 years of experience will be given the opportunity to mentor younger teams.
WHEN: Applications will be accepted until December 20, 2021
HOW YOU CAN HELP: SWE Members, we need your help! If you are interested in mentoring a FIRST Robotics team or SWENext Club, apply to be a club counselor through this interest survey or email us at outreach@swe.org.
Ready to apply? Click here.
FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs
Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.
An international not-for-profit organization (501(c)(3)) founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Alumni of FIRST programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships, and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers.
