FRC2023-2024: Crescendo

Impact Award Submission

Throughout the last 3 years, Titan Robotics Club has been defining impact for everyone in a multitude of different ways. At TRC, we make an impact for our own members. Many of our members at TRC have learned many different skills which they now use in their everyday lives. For example, at TRC we taught our members how to use tools safely and effectively. We also taught our members how to go through the engineering design process for creating a robot by extensively planning, adjusting, and assembling. Our students carry these skills with them throughout their careers in STEM going into Engineering and computer science courses. TRC has also created a massive impact on its members with skills which aren’t just related to STEM. For example, our members have learned how to write emails and grants. Most importantly though, our members have learned teamwork and leadership by participating in our club and working together on a set goal. These skills are important for the success of all our members. Some of our most successful students have attended a wide range of schools all around the US including UW, NYU, ASU, and more! Titan Robotics Club does not just impact our own members, we have impacted our local community as well. Throughout the past 3 years, our club has been attending many different events right in Washington. For example, Titan Robotics Club for the past 10 years has been supporting school fairs and science related events where we showcased the capabilities of STEM, and the opportunities and values FIRST has to offer for students and adults. Within the last 3 years, we’ve impacted over 3,500 students locally through captivating robots. Titan Robotics Club has also hosted several workshops in Washington. These FLL workshops allow us to spread the message of FIRST by providing a hands-on experience where kids and adults will learn the process of teamwork and working together to solve challenges. Titan Robotics Club has also made an Impact for other FIRST robotics teams, spreading FIRST values of teamwork and gracious professionalism. TRC is a member of the Bellevue Alliance, which is an Alliance of all the FRC teams in Bellevue Washington consisting of 948, 949, 1899, 2412, and 9036. However, for the past few years all the teams in the Bellevue area have lacked the shop space necessary to build a full field. Through corporate sponsorship, Titan Robotics acquired a large warehouse with enough space for a full field, we shared that resource with other teams allowing them to practice, test, and adjust their robot on a full-size field. We also assisted the other teams on the Bellevue Alliance to advocate for a location where they could build their own full-size field. When they were successful in getting a location from our school district, even though TRC already owns a full-size field, we assisted in the process of constructing the field parts and elements showing the FIRST values of collaboration and gracious professionalism. Because of the aftermath of COVID when one of our fellow BA teams was under threat of shutting down, Titan Robotics created an impact by assisting them with space, tools, and other essential resources to ensure the team would stay open to continue to provide a space for their members to spread the FIRST ideas. We here at Titan Robotics are always willing to assist our fellow teams when in need because that’s the proper way to spread FIRST ideals. We’ve impacted over 200 other FIRST students and mentors by assisting them with needs which are difficult to obtain. Titan Robotics Club hasn’t just helped around here in Washington, we’ve made our impact globally by hosting webinars which can be viewed from all over the world. These Webinars help people learn about STEM related opportunities once they reach college. Our webinars assist students from all over the world by giving them an understanding into a technical field and the challenges faced, while also providing an open space for questions from our curious listeners. We’ve been doing our webinars for the past few years. We've affected over 100 students from around the world in just the past 3 years by giving them a look into STEM fields where they can explore the opportunities STEM has to offer. Titan robotics club has been a gateway for students all around the world to understand FIRST and STEM and the opportunities offered with them. We define impact because we’ve been doing this for so long, and consistently every year since our teams founding back in 2001. We’ve been doing this for 20 years and our impact has helped small town members of FIRST, young kids, and even a global audience become interested in STEM.