Exciting New Endeavor at Clarkson University!

[AndrewMorrison]

Here at Clarkson we have been working to provide the best experience possible for incoming students. Over this summer the school has began several construction projects to help improve the campus and make it much more “green”. One of the projects to be finished before this upcoming semester is the addition of a fourth floor on four of the main dorms. Well team 229 Division by Zero is ecstatic to say that Clarkson has agreed to let us have one of the floors! As early as this upcoming school year we will have our very own FIRST Robotics floor to try and help introduce students with similar interests in technology and robotics. Here at Clarkson we have a large interest in the FIRST community mentoring FLL and FTC teams, as well as holding official events for each, and then of course there is our involvement in FRC with 229. The best part of all of this is that there are still rooms left!
If any students are interested please contact me at morrisah@clarkson.edu
Or Paula Wilmot at Phone: 315-268-6680
E-mail: pwilmot@clarkson.edu


Below are more details describing this FIRST Robotics Floor.
First Robotics Service Learning Community (SLC)
Is an outreach-oriented co-ed theme housing option for up to twenty freshmen and sophomore students who will work with experienced upperclass FIRST Robotics SLC members to provide mentoring to local K-12 students involved in various programs. You will participate in hands-on activities that build character and leadership skills while obtaining practical engineering design and project management experiences. You will be expected to contribute to various outreach activities throughout the year such as mentoring local K-12 students in the design and construction of LEGO NXT-based robots or helping to run a Championship FIRST Lego League or Tech Challenge competition on the Clarkson campus. This community is open to all majors.

Participants will:
1. Provide at least 3 hours per week of outreach service to the SLC.
2. Keep a journal that documents their activities each semester.
3. Submit a brief summary of their accomplishments within the SLC at the end of each semester.
4. Have fun while helping others discover robotics!

Service opportunities will include:
1. Remote mentoring of participating school districts from the SLC using Internet-based technology
2. Travel-based mentoring to participating school districts, e.g., working directly with K-12 teachers and their students.
3. Tasks related to successfully preparing for and executing a Championship FLL and FTC tournament
4. Tasks related to successfully preparing for and executing robotics-based mentoring, e.g., learning required software such as Robolab, NXT-G, RobotC or LabVIEW for NXT, inventorying and troubleshooting kits of parts, configuring notebook computers for outreach use, etc.
5. Tasks related to successfully executing the overall outreach program, e.g., helping to organize and run the SLC, develop/maintain the program web and FTP sites as well as develop promotional/instructional materials, fund-raising, etc.

Additional programmatic opportunities include:
1. Ability to work with and learn from experienced members of the Clarkson FIRST Robotics SPEED team and Autonomous Robotics Club.
2. Participation in regularly scheduled SLC activities, such as guest speakers, movie nights, etc.
3. Mentors providing tutoring/study tips on the floor.



As part of signing up for first, students are asked the following question:
In 300-500 words, please describe any involvement you have had with FIRST programs or other activities involving mentoring or robotics. Please also describe what you hope to achieve in your time at Clarkson.
How it looks now.

We hope to see you this fall!

[Libby K]

I'm going to Clarkson in the fall, and I applied for the FIRST housing. I'm so excited!

[RobotGrrl]

The new floor is going to be amazing, and it is less than 300m away from the Clarkson University Autonomous Robotics Club (CUARC).

Our robots are waiting for you.

[Nevets Amstier]

WOOOOOOO

CF for those who dont like to read
-Robotics themed housing for underclassman so long as you continue to participate.
-Clarkson is awesome


on a side note I'm amazed at how far along they've come its really good to see!!!
Hopefully they'll move just as quick on the new student center!!!

[DonRotolo]

(Thinking)Maybe you can just remove the walls, then you'd be able to put in a full-size practice field and maybe a machine shop in the corner...

Beds? You don't really need to sleep, do you?

[Alivia]

Woohoo Clarkson!
That sounds like tons of fun, and I can't wait to see how the first year goes.
Keep up the hardwork.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

(Thinking)Maybe you can just remove the walls, then you'd be able to put in a full-size practice field and maybe a machine shop in the corner...

Beds? You don't really need to sleep, do you?

Don,

I love the way you think. Maybe you could even magically put a CNC in there. I love the possiblities.

-RC

[ttldomination]

Wow. It's great to see that your college is recognizing the potential of FIRST and actually making steps towards solidifying their faith in the program rather than issue empty words.

Words are not enough to express exactly how HUGE this move is, or at least how HUGE I see it to be.

[PaW]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Beds? You don't really need to sleep, do you?

Everyone says sleep is overrated.
"all build-season, all the time"

This sounds like it will be a very nice setup at Clarkson. I'd love to see the progress as things move forward.

[Jared Russell]

This is an awesome (and somewhat frightening ) idea!

[Jay Trzaskos]

I've seen the progress that Clarkson is making, and I've been talking to some of the people in charge. It seems like they've got a great system set up for the years to come, and will use this as a launching point for some new and exciting mentoring initiatives.

As an alumnus of 229 I couldn't be more proud of what these new team members are doing to make Clarkson a model for future university mentored teams. As well as setting the bar higher for themselves. They are really making a difference in the local community through their FLL and FTC involvement. And now with these new tools and students in this new setting, they will continue to have a large and positive impact within the FIRST community itself.

I really urge any incoming freshman, and new sophomores, to take full advantage of this opportunity available to you. I've lived in a similar environment while at school, and it will be one of your best experiences while at Clarkson.

[BradleyView]

As one of the college mentors of team 229, I am very happy that we are getting a floor for robotics. This will not only allow for members of the Clarkson community who are experienced in FIRST to participate in outreach activities, but it will also allow experienced college students to help Freshman and other new students to Clarkson in adjusting to college life. Not only will Sophomores be living with the new Freshman, but juniors and seniors will be working closely with the floor. I encourage any incoming Freshman to apply for the Robotics Service Learning Community.

Also, big plus, the rooms on the new floors are pretty sweet, and much better than living in Hamlin/Powers!

[Kims Robot]

Amazing...... simply Amazing....
I love seeing Clarkson & 229 keep growing from what it was to what it is, its great to see so much progress in such a great program.

Keep up the great work!!

[lnex1357]

We are very happy to host this very unique opportunity for incoming freshman and current Team 229 members. We are sure that it will redefine the future of not only this teams success but also that of other college based FIRST teams.

From a standpoint of students coming from other teams it will allow these incoming "FIRSTers" not only to live & interact with other FIRST veterans, but also gain important resume opportunities by filling various elected postions within the the S.L.C. (service learning community)

For those students who are rookies to FIRST, they will have the chance to be apart of an amazing experince that will not only enhance there technical, social and professional experience but also open up there world to a whole new side of "Technology Serving Humanity".

As the SLC's 1st Residental Advisor I am excited to be apart of this amazing outreach effort and I can't wait to meet all the of the new incoming residents this Fall!

Cheers and Good Luck !

[Libby K]

I've been living on this floor for a week and I already love it. Any students that are interested in Clarkson- this is a great opportunity. We're working on so many different outreach programs with FLL, FTC, and FRC, and we all get to do it from the comfort of the dorm lounge!

There are so many great people here at Clarkson, and I encourage any upcoming high school juniors & seniors to do your research and take a look at Clarkson's program. It's a far drive, but it's definitely worth the trip.


I love my high school team, and always will, but I can't wait to mentor with Clarkson once the FLL/FTC seasons start. It's gonna be a good year.

See y'all at Ruckus!