TCEA Wins State Robotics Grant for High School Students
The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) has been awarded a Texas Workforce Commission High School Competitive Robotics Education Team Development Program grant in the amount of $322,661. The purpose of the grant is to form new high school robotics teams across Texas and to foster an interest in STEM-related careers.
Working with 91 different campuses and school districts from 19 of the 20 Education Service Center regions in Texas, TCEA will provide three days of robotics professional development to the sponsors of these new high school robotics clubs. Each club will also receive a netbook computer, LEGO robotics materials and software, registration to their local area robotics contest, and webinars with robotics experts for students throughout the year. “We are constantly looking for ways to engage our students and prepare them for the 21st Century,” says Lorenzo High School Principal Jerrod Pickering. Lorenzo High School is one of the campuses that will benefit from this grant. High School Math Teacher, Shawn Fulkerson, and Ag Mechanics Teacher, Arden Davis will be the coaches for this program.
"We are extremely pleased to have won this grant and to have the opportunity to introduce more students to the excitement of robotics in both Arena and Inventions competition," said Lori Gracey, executive director. "With our long history in robotics education and competition, this is a natural fit. This funding will enable us to reach 1,400 more high school students from all across the state in our area and state contests." The grant will run during the 2010-2011 school year.
