The robotics program at the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science was awarded a $6,000 community grant from Best Buy for the school’s efforts to build skill proficiency in technology through programs that meet outside of the school day.

Four ATEMS students, along with teacher and sponsor Allison Stanley, submitted the grant on behalf of the school’s robotics team. Nathan Bryce, Nolan Henderson, Carmin Ray and Kate Wilson wrote about the school’s need for new generation technology that provides the most advanced robotics experience.

Local Best Buy general manager Joe Metcalf and his staff made the grant presentation to Principal Jeff Howle, Mrs. Stanley and robotics students on Dec. 6 at the ATEMS campus, The ATEMS Robotics team currently has about 30 active members and meets after school three days a week.

The Best Buy Foundation created the community grant partnership to help local and regional non-profit partners who offer out-of-school time programs that create hands-on access to technology education. These programs should help teens build tech skills by utilizing cutting-edge technology such as computers, digital cameras, video cameras and professional software in a wide range of areas.

“In order to compete with robotics teams across the state, ATEMS Robotics needs to upgrade our competition parts to the new generation parts,” explained Mrs. Stanley. “The Super Competition Kit includes over 1,000 new parts including a new controller and robot brain equipped with LCD screens and supercharged motors.”

The grant funds will allow ATEMS Robotics to purchase three V5 Super Competition Bundles from VEX and a new Dell laptop computer.