This may be a long shot

[treffk]

FIRST is a major part of my life and has been since I was a freshman in high school, I'm now a junior in college. My boyfriend has realized how much it means to me for him to be involved to and has convinced some people at his naval training center to give back to the community by helping a team out.

When I went to email the team, their website was not listed in TIMs and going to their high school's website was a dead end also. If anyone has any contact information for a team Charleston, SC that would welcome some more support passing that information along to me would be greatly appreciated, specifically West Ashley High School.

Thanks so much,
Kelli =)

[Josh Drake]

Contacting 342 friends now. I'm assuming you mean team 3475. Hope to have something back to you.

[treffk]

I was given the email for team 3475. If they are not interested, I'd love to get in contact with 342 as long as the sailors can travel that far.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by treffk

I was given the email for team 3475. If they are not interested, I'd love to get in contact with 342 as long as the sailors can travel that far.

If you and your friends do decide to mentor a team, try to choose one that is not already well established. If you can make the connection with 3475 it would be much more productive than helping 342, an already well run team.

[treffk]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

If you and your friends do decide to mentor a team, try to choose one that is not already well established. If you can make the connection with 3475 it would be much more productive than helping 342, an already well run team.

That's why I'm trying to get in contact with 3475, I figured if a team has a 300 number they would not need as much help as a 3000 team. In general that is.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by treffk

I figured if a team has a 300 number they would not need as much help as a 3000 team. In general that is.

Yeah, but you'd be surprised. I know of such a team that has never won an award, and played in the QFs just once. In their entire history. Gotta hand it to them for persistence though. Good folks, too.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Kelli,
We have heard through the grapevine that the Naval brass want to become involved in high school robotics programs. So far, I think things are beginning to move along on the west coast. It couldn't hurt to ask around.

[treffk]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Kelli,
We have heard through the grapevine that the Naval brass want to become involved in high school robotics programs. So far, I think things are beginning to move along on the west coast. It couldn't hurt to ask around.

I am foreseeing this happening but do not know how long it will take. My boyfriend was in the DEP program when he experienced his first major FIRST experience. We went down to volunteer at the Championships this past year and he realized that there was so much untapped potential there for the military, specifically high scientific jobs that are difficult to fill. He had immediately called his recruiter and contacted the head nuclear recruiter for the navy(if I remember his title correctly), both were interested in FIRST. The main nuclear guy was actually based out of STL and had no idea that there was such a high scientific program competing in the area that weekend.

Being a navy significant other and the fact FIRST is and will always be my life, I am always going to be bugging his shipmates and navy friends to volunteer hoping to get them hooked.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

The only Navy presence we have in Chicago comes from boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station well north of Chicago. In the past we have tapped the base for FLL judges and volunteers at the regionals near the base.

[ebarker]

From CBS News- 60 Minutes – the DEKA arm - http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4937716n

Additional short feature From CBS News - 60 Minutes - http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4937720n

DEKA, DEan KAmen’s research and development company. DEKA did the “bionic arm” research for DOD under a DARPA contract.

Official Championship Sponsors for the 2011 FIRST Championship include:

• The United States Air Force
• National Defense Education Program (NDEP) ( supports DOD by Congressional authorization )
• The Boeing Company
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Rolls Royce ( aircraft engines )

United Technologies is the parent company of Pratt and Whitney, a major supplier of jet turbines for the military, and the parent of Sikorsky. UTC is a major sponsor of FIRST teams. Other sponsors include companies such as BAE Systems.

The Chairman of the Board of FIRST is Walt Haverstein, CEO, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Havenstein graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and received a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Havenstein served in the US Marine Corps.

National Defense Education Program (NDEP)
By Congressional authorization, the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) supports the future workforce needs of the Department of Defense.
NDEP does this by supporting US students across the entire spectrum of their education experience via three major program components –

• pre-college program
• university scholarship program
• faculty fellowship program.

FIRST is a member of NDEP.

Also tied to NDEP are the DoD Research and Test and Evaluation Labs. The DOD lab in Georgia part of the U.S. Air Force and is located at Robins AFB, Warner Robins GA.
More information is at: http://www.ndep.us/

Speaking of Robins AFB, GRITS - Georgia Robotics Invitational Tournament and Showcase is being held this weekend, October 15th at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...6&postcount=10

Lunch at GRITS this year is sponsored by the U.S. Army. Free lunch for everyone. Sorry, no MRE's but regular sub sandwiches.

Kell Robotics is doing a lot of collaboration with DoD recruiters to help connect students with career opportunities. These opportunnities are both in regular military as non-commissioned, warrant, and commissioned officers. AND as civilian DoD research and development engineers, and as civilian contractor engineers.

Most people know you can become a ROTC candidate and earn a degree and a commission. But did you know there are opportunities earn your way through college as an engineering student, and still be a civilian. Very similar to ROTC but you are civilian when you get out of school. There are similar opportunities for students that want to be in the reserves.

If you are in college already, you can apply for internships at DoD research labs. A year of college costs is offset by a year of civilian engineering work at DoD.

There are a lot of great opportunities and I will post more information in a few days.
.

[HumblePie]

Team 3489 (Category 5) is a second year team headquartered in Charleston,SC and serving Ashley Ridge and Summerville High Schools. We went from just 10 students last year to over 30 students this year. We meet at the same facility as Team 342. We also have our lead programming mentor slated to relocate to DC later this fall. PM me if you'd like to discuss how we can best utilize your talents.

[Josh Drake]

I sent you a PM with the 3475 team contact.
Thanks Justin. (342)

[treffk]

Thanks for all the responses. I emailed him and he called my boyfriend already to discuss it.