The Hahnville High School Engineering Club received $5,000 from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, to assist the club, which is designed to promote careers in engineering.
The students spend six weeks every year building a new robot to compete in a newly designed competition.
“The challenge is different every year, but the students always learn complex, problem solving skills. Monsanto has become a big part of making that happen,” said Laura M. Theriot, sponsor of the Engineering Club. This grant will allow the team of over 40 students to register for the FIRST Robotics competition held in New Orleans.
The students involved are 11th and 12th graders interested in mechanical and electrical engineering. They have to construct a 120-pound robot, build a promotional campaign, design a Web site, and exhibit gracious professionalism.
The main focus is on teamwork that must be used to get along during the grueling “build” period. Monsanto supports the promotion of youth in the areas of science and engineering with volunteers, as well. For the past four years, Mr. Jim Gassen, an employee of Monsanto, has given his time to the students. Volunteers Craig Meyers and Jay Meyers have also assisted during the last two seasons.
The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, the Fund’s primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. The Monsanto Fund is focused on grant-making in four main areas: nutritional well-being through agriculture; science education, primarily on professional development for teachers; the environment, which includes conservation, protection of biodiversity, clean water and restoration of wildlife habitat; and improving the quality of life in communities where Monsanto employees live and work.
Visit the Monsanto Fund at http://www.monsantofund.org/asp/welcome.asp.
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