EnTech 281 Community Involvement

In the spirit of FIRST, and because we have been fortunate to receive such generous support from our sponsors and the community, EnTech 281 strives to give back to the community by promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

Annual Scrimmage

Since 2000, we have assisted with the annual FIRST FRC Pre-Ship Scrimmage generously held by Greenville Technical College.

Gearing Up Screening

In November 2009, we invited area schools and friends to Greenville Tech to attend a screening of Gearing Up, a documentary on FIRST Robotics Teams that went to video this year.

Michael Parker Event

In September 2009, EnTech 281 hosted an event featuring NASA Engineer Michael Parker. We sent invitations to area schools and welcomed the community. Mr. Parker did a presentation about his experiences with NASA, which was followed by a reception.

Slater Hall "From Mill to Moon" Event

In July 2009, EnTech 281 was invited to participate in a big way in the Slater Hall celebration. Slater Hall was the location of the fabric that went into the making of the first lunar space suit and on the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing a huge event took place. EnTech had a children's make and take area that included engineering and design challenges. The very young kids could create their own 3D chalk art work of the lunar landing. Students could make and launch alka-seltzer rockets or make and test their robotic arm graspers. We had over 100 children come to visit our booth as well as Representative Bob Inglis and Astronaut Piers Sellers, both of whom were able to drive the large robot created for this past year's Lunacy game. We also refurbished and ran a historical car in the downhill derby race, coming in first in the consolation category overall. The team exposed people of all ages to the vision of FIRST, shared their enterprising spirit with the general public, and impressed upon all the importance of team work, design, and engineering.

Roper Mountain Summer Program

During the summer of 2009, EnTech 281 team members assisted with a class called NASA Engineering Design Challenges which was held all day for one week at Roper Mountain Science Center. Each day, the class for middle school students presented a new challenge to test their ingenuity in solving an engineering problem. Students learned about launching rockets, creating propellers, thermal protection of spacecraft re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, a propulsion system based on magnetic induction, and roller coasters. They learned through engineering design the similarities of space travel and free-fall thrill rides. The team worked with the students guiding them through the engineering design process and how to communicate their results. Their teacher and mentor, Beth Leavitt, says she could not have done it without their help and because of team 281 these young kids see a future for themselves in STEM (Science, Technology, Enginering, & Mathematics) careers.

Rock the Robot Dance

In May 2009, EnTech hosted the first annual Rock the Robot dance. The event displayed our robot and celebrated a great season. We sent invitations to area schools and welcomed the community.

Freedom Weekend Aloft Demonstration

In May 2009, we set up a canopy at the upstate balloon festival Freedom Weekend Aloft and demonstrated our robot.

Partnering with the Girl Scouts for the Powerful Women Summit

The Powerful Women Summit was created by parents and female students to publicize how women can succeed in nontraditional careers. At the first event, the boys of the team helped set up, serve, and take down at the event. The second annual event, sponsored by Michelin, did not require the boys help, but the boys will be helping again this year by escorting the girls to their tables.

Helping Other Teams Get Started

We have mentored several new robotics teams through the years and bought kits for new FLL teams.

Toys for Tots

Each year during the Holiday Season, we collect STEM toys for the annual Toys for Tots Drive, donating hundreds of toys geared to developing skills and interest in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Monthly Food Donation

The first Monday of each month, year round, we collect food for donation to a local food pantry.

Christmas Shopping

For the last two years, EnTech 281 team members have assisted children from low-income families of the Boys and Girls Club shop for presents for their families.

Volunteering with GAIHN

GAIHN stands for Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network. It is an organization that uses churches to house homeless families that would be separated at any other homeless shelter. One night a year, EnTech 281 serves them a meal and entertains the children. We told the children of the robotics program and now they aspire to join when they are of age.

A Photo of the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network

Spinx Runfest

In October 2009, we volunteered at the Spinx Runfest, running motivation stations, serving food, and picking up trash. The event raises money for various local charities.

The Candlelight Run

In June 2009, EnTech 281 helped the Jaycees, set up, run, and take down the Candlelight Run which raises money for different upstate charities including Jaycee Camp Hope and the Salvation Army Boys and Girls club.