April 3, 2025
Exciting news from the Gentoo Robotics Team! We’re thrilled to announce that our Middle School FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team has received a $2,000 Sponsorship Grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. This generous funding will help support team registration, event fees, and the purchase of new parts to enhance our robot’s capabilities, but we also rely on donations from our community to get new parts and join more events.
Founded in 2023 as a way to expand STEM opportunities for Middle School students and build a feeder team for our more experienced high school FRC team, Gentoo has already participated in three competitions over the past two years. These events have provided invaluable learning experiences, allowing team members to make continuous improvements to their robot after each competition.
The Gentoo team is organized into specialized sub-teams: Code, Build, Strategy, and Operations. Students start by learning essential build skills, like using power tools, prototyping, and constructing basic structures, before moving into specialized roles. This structure gives students the chance to develop specific skills while contributing to the team’s overall success. Our high school FRC team members provide mentorship, creating a supportive community where Middle Schoolers can explore engineering challenges they wouldn’t otherwise experience.
“These donations are essential for building a competitive robot,” notes team coach Sean Andrews. “This grant will allow us to hit the ground running next year.”
Gentoo meets twice weekly in the Makerspace, with specific days determined at the beginning of each school year. While the team primarily consists of seventh and eighth graders, motivated sixth graders may join with coaches’ approval.
Interested in coding, building, developing strategy, or handling team operations for a fun robotics competition? Join a community where you’ll explore STEM fields and develop teamwork skills that will benefit you throughout school and beyond.
For more information about joining the Gentoo Robotics Team for the upcoming school year, please contact Sean Andrews at sandrews@moundsparkacademy.org.
