Influencing the Development of Young STEM Enthusiasts

At BEI, we are strong believers in the education and nurturing of the next generation of engineers and scientists. Children are able to learn new skills at a rapid pace, and when they are given a proper outlet to grow these abilities, they can accomplish feats beyond their age. To directly influence the development of young STEM enthusiasts, BEI became a Level 1 Sponsor of the FIRST Robotics Tech Tonix Team.

Founded in 1989 by inventor and scientist Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics is a Manchester-based, not-for-profit competition where students from grades 6-12 can work as a team to build a fully-functioning robot. Participants are given six weeks to work with limited materials to craft a robot capable of completing a series of tasks at the FIRST championship. Students are also asked to fund raise and create a cohesive brand that can be seen across their materials.

In August of 2016, BEI began their sponsorship of the Tech Tonix comprised of students entering 7th grade, and also the youngest team in NH. At their first scrimmage in October, the Tech Tonix placed 3rd among eight teams. Their robot included a hopper and beacon pusher, and competed in five out of ten challenges.

The Tech Tonix recently attended the FIRST Robotics championships in Wolfeboro where they placed 5th out of 20 teams. They were able to advance to the semi-finals and won the Control Award for exceptional programming skills. After several weeks of hard work, the Tech Tonix, their mentors, and the BEI team are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.

Check out the gallery below to see the Tech Tonix in action. As long as intelligent and curious students like these are eager to learn more about the STEM industry, BEI will continue to support them.