Our Mission
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is a group of skills that prepare students for a career in a large number of fields. In recent years, it has become more and more important to provide students with a strong background in STEM to prepare them for the rapidly evolving workforce.
Unfortunately, STEM activities, like educational robotics, have been historically inaccessible to socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Starting a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team has high upfront costs (upwards of $4000) that schools and organizations in underserved communities are often unable to afford.
Jezuba's goal is to enable these students to participate in robotics, where they can develop advanced STEM skills through hands-on experience. As such, we aim to create a long term robotics program for socioeconomically disadvantaged students in grades 7-12 based on FTC. This program will both level the playing field for these students and provide them with strong multidisciplinary backgrounds for higher education and beyond.
Unfortunately, STEM activities, like educational robotics, have been historically inaccessible to socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Starting a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team has high upfront costs (upwards of $4000) that schools and organizations in underserved communities are often unable to afford.
Jezuba's goal is to enable these students to participate in robotics, where they can develop advanced STEM skills through hands-on experience. As such, we aim to create a long term robotics program for socioeconomically disadvantaged students in grades 7-12 based on FTC. This program will both level the playing field for these students and provide them with strong multidisciplinary backgrounds for higher education and beyond.
Our Goals
We will found 3 new FTC teams for socioeconomically disadvantaged students from grades 7-12 in the Bay Area in the next 5 years.
Through these teams, we will build both technical and non-technical skills to prepare students for success in higher education and meaningful careers in STEM.
- These teams will develop skills in both technical and non-technical aspects of running a successful FTC team. Students will practice these advanced skills through hands-on experience with the guidance and support of a more experienced team, FTC Team 9656 Omega.
- These teams will participate in official FTC competitions with the ultimate goal of advancing to the Northern California Regional Championship.
Through these teams, we will build both technical and non-technical skills to prepare students for success in higher education and meaningful careers in STEM.
- The technical skills that students will gain from the program include but are not limited to computer aided design, machining, coding, and control system theory.
- The non-technical skills that students will gain from the program include but are not limited to fundraising, financial literacy, maintaining sponsor relations, marketing, and public speaking.
Our Partnership With Team Omega
In addition to financial difficulties, rookie teams struggle to acquire the engineering knowledge to be successful. One of the largest obstacles rookie teams face is finding motivated and involved mentors to help bridge the knowledge gap. This is even more challenging for teams in underserved communities, that are not surrounded by more experienced teams to call on for assistance.
Jezuba has partnered with FTC Team 9656 Omega, a team that qualified to the Houston World Championship (a distinction only 5% of FTC teams share) and has expertise in the area of creating a successful, long-standing program. Through this partnership, the Jezuba Robotics Program can ensure that it has reliable, sustainable mentorship for years to come.
Jezuba has partnered with FTC Team 9656 Omega, a team that qualified to the Houston World Championship (a distinction only 5% of FTC teams share) and has expertise in the area of creating a successful, long-standing program. Through this partnership, the Jezuba Robotics Program can ensure that it has reliable, sustainable mentorship for years to come.
Why Robotics And FTC?
At Jezuba, we are dedicated to empowering young people through knowledge and experience and making positive change. Helping historically underrepresented students participate in STEM and, in turn, preparing them for higher education and future careers aligns with both of our ideals.
Robotics and FTC expose students to advanced STEM skills in a fun and engaging extracurricular setting. Students work in 15 member teams to design, build, and code their own robot for each year’s challenge. Students additionally build non-technical skills by conducting outreach in their community and collaborating with local businesses. Students also learn about the engineering design process and how to document their journey.
FIRST, the nonprofit organization behind FTC, has partnered with universities to conduct long term research on the impact of FTC on student’s STEM skill (detailed here). FTC participants experience growth in many areas (including but not limited to the ones below).
Robotics and FTC expose students to advanced STEM skills in a fun and engaging extracurricular setting. Students work in 15 member teams to design, build, and code their own robot for each year’s challenge. Students additionally build non-technical skills by conducting outreach in their community and collaborating with local businesses. Students also learn about the engineering design process and how to document their journey.
FIRST, the nonprofit organization behind FTC, has partnered with universities to conduct long term research on the impact of FTC on student’s STEM skill (detailed here). FTC participants experience growth in many areas (including but not limited to the ones below).
