Thanks to a $1,500 grant from the MEEMIC Insurance Company and Lakeville Elementary teacher Cheryl Matas? dedication to education, more Oxford students will have the opportunity to learn and compete in robotics competitions.
‘It is a worthwhile program,? said Matas, who teaches second grade and coordinates the district’s participation in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), which complements Oxford’s hands-on math and science curriculum.
FLL is a global program created to get kids ages 9-14 excited about science and technology.
Working together in teams, the competitions require students to build an autonomous robot to complete pre-designed missions; analyze, research and invent a solution to a problem; and create a clever presentation to perform in front of a panel of judges.
‘It teaches them teamwork, basic engineering skills, computer programming, research (skills), strategy, (and) how to come up with a creative presentation for their project,? Matas said. ‘There’s just a plethora of things they can learn from this.?
The MEEMIC Foundation for the Future of Education recently awarded Matas the mini-grant so the robotics program can grow throughout the school district.
‘Hopefully, we can get the program expanded to other schools so everybody actually has their own equipment to work in-house,? Matas said.
Right now, Lakeville and Oxford elementaries have their own FLL teams which include students from Clear Lake, Leonard and the middle school.
Matas wants to use part of the money to buy robot bodies, which contain computer brains, for other schools, so they can have their own teams.
‘The robot bodies are really expensive,? she said. ‘They’re about $350 to $400 a piece.?
The rest of the grant money will be put toward things like registration fees and purchasing more LEGOs.
‘It can cost up to $1,000 to have one team go every single year,? she said.
Matas was ‘relieved? she got the grant.
‘Money’s getting scarce to fund this and more and more kids want to sign up.?
MEEMIC Insurance agent Ed Macy, of the Ed & Sandy Macy Insurance Agency in Clarkston, helped make Oxford teachers aware of the mini-grant program.
‘We know that especially in today’s economy, it’s important that teachers are able to find funding for special programs and it’s been our pleasure to help,? Macy said.
Founded in 1992 by the MEEMIC Insurance Company, the MEEMIC Foundation for the Future of Education offers mini-grants up to $2,500 for innovative programs that enhance current curriculum.
Oxford’s FLL program is always in need of donations. Those wishing to contribute are encouraged to contact Matas via e-mail at matasc01@oxford.k12.mi.us.