The Chrysler Foundation Awards Grant to Indiana FIRST Robotics Team

January 23, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  The Chrysler Foundation continues its longtime commitment to furthering science, engineering and technology education as it announces recipients of 2011 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotic grants. Nearly $125,000 in grants will be disbursed to 17 teams spanning 21 high schools in the U.S.; Western High School in Russiaville, Ind., was named as one of the recipients.

In addition to providing funding, more than 20 Chrysler Group LLC employees support the FIRST Robotics teams as mentors and competition coordinators across the U.S. Schools awarded grants were chosen based on close proximity to Chrysler Group facilities and team involvement by company employees. Western High School is located near Chrysler Group’s Indiana Transmission Plant I and II, Kokomo Casting Plant and Kokomo Transmission Plant, all of which are located in Kokomo, Ind. Chrysler Foundation grants were also given to high school robotics teams in Michigan and Arizona.

FIRST is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 to inspire students in engineering and technology. For the past 15 years, The Chrysler Foundation has been a supporter of the program, which combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. The Chrysler Foundation has established a proud legacy of enriching the physical, educational and cultural needs of local communities in which Chrysler Group LLC conducts business.

“The FIRST program brings the engineering and science fields directly to the students and is consistent with Chrysler’s legacy of innovation and technology,” said Scott G. Kunselman, Senior Vice President – Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC, and Chrysler Foundation trustee. “We are proud to assist in educating the next generation of bright and talented engineers which are vital to our industry’s future.”

Approximately 25 high school students make up each robotics team, which has six weeks to design and build a robot to perform a prescribed series of tasks. Working side-by-side with adult mentors, students learn basic physics, electrical and mechanical engineering and machining skills.

The students are required to raise funds to participate in regional, state and national events. Teams sponsored by The Chrysler Foundation routinely qualify for the state competitions and 11 of its sponsored teams made it to the national championship in Atlanta last year. The team from Notre Dame Preparatory in Pontiac, Mich., placed second and finished as a finalist in the Archimedes Division.

About FIRST
FIRST, founded in 1989, is a non-profit charity established to encourage young people, their schools and communities to get excited and inspired about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to develop an understanding of how gaining mastery over these subject areas enriches the lives of all. Today, the FRC for high-school students has grown from 28 teams involved to over 1,300. More than 70,000 volunteers and a network of over 2,500 corporations, educational and professional institutions and individuals assist students in learning to value teamwork, self-motivation, character, time-management, speed, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Learn more about FIRST at www.usfirst.org.

About The Chrysler Foundation
During the past 57 years, The Chrysler Foundation has established a proud legacy of enriching the physical, educational and cultural needs of local communities in which Chrysler Group LLC conducts business. Chrysler employees also have a strong commitment to helping improve their communities by volunteering their time and talents in the places where we live and work. Since its inception, The Chrysler Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants.