(Windsor, ON – Tuesday, January 12, 2016) – As if the launch of the new Chrysler Pacifica minivan wasn’t exciting enough for Windsor-Essex, twelve local high school robotics teams received a total of $60,000 USD (approx. $85,000 Canadian) from FCA to fuel their path to success in the upcoming FIRST Robotics competition.
Each team received $5,000 (USD) from the FCA Foundation to help cover the costs of registration, parts, materials and team apparel. To qualify, each robotics team had to have a volunteer mentor from FCA.
“FCA provides not only key funding but, more importantly, FCA provides volunteer mentors that really helps lift our teams to the next level,” says Bob Mero, the Math Department Head at St. Joseph’s High School and Mentor of the LaserBots Team 4923.
“WEtech Alliance congratulates FCA for recognizing that investing in FIRST Robotics students is an investment in the future of FCA and innovative companies across our region and across all sectors,” says Yvonne Pilon, President and CEO of WEtech Alliance. “FIRST Robotics cultivates our next engineers, programmers and technology entrepreneurs.”
12 Canadian FIRST Robotics teams received $5,000 grants from the FCA Foundation:
- Purple Raiders, Assumption College Catholic High School
- Infinity Robotics, Maranatha Christian Academy
- Viral Vortex, Tecumseh Vista Academy
- Knight Vision, Holy Names High School
- Cougar Robotics, Cardinal Carter
- Hawktobots, Harrow District High School
- Sabre Bytes, Sandwich Secondary School
- Falcons, Ecole secondaire Michel Gratton
- Mustangs, Vincent Massey Secondary School
- Automatons, Belle River High School
- LaserBots, St. Joseph High School
- Saints Bot, St. Anne’s Catholic High School
For more information, see the official Press Release from FCA.
All local teams will participate in the upcoming third annual Windsor Essex Great Lakes Regional April 8-9, 2016 to be held at the University of Windsor St. Denis Centre. It is the largest FIRST Robotics competition in Canada which will draw 1500 participants on 52 teams from across North America and Europe.
About WEtech Alliance: WEtech Alliance strives to nurture innovation and technology by providing the tools, programs, resources and support that entrepreneurs and technology-centric companies require for sustainable growth, development and success. WEtech Alliance spearheaded the growth of FIRST Robotics in Windsor-Essex & Chatham-Kent.
About FIRST Robotics: FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people through accessible, innovative programs that build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. Over 300,000 high school and grade school students participate in robotics competitions worldwide with 120,000 mentors and volunteers. Visit www.firstroboticscanada.org or www.firstinspires.org
About FCA Canada: Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 91st anniversary in 2016. FCA Canada Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA US LLC, a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers and markets Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. In addition to its assembly facilities, which produce the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan (Windsor), Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development center in Windsor, and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.
FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”
Media Contacts:
LouAnn Gosselin
FCA Canada
Head of Communications
Telephone: +1 (519) 973- 2253
Mobile: +1 (519) 984-2600
Email: louann.gosselin@fcagroup.com
Irek Kusmierczyk, PhD
Director of Partnerships
WEtech Alliance
Telephone: 519.990.3132
Email: ikusmierczyk@wetech-alliance.com
