Inspiration that Can't be Measured in Numbers...

Team 2337 came away from the Troy District Competition with the 2013 Chairman's Award. 

The Chairman’s Award was created to keep the central focus of FRC on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become scientists, engineers, and technologists.The Chairman’s Award represents the spirit of FIRST.  It honors the team that, in the judges’ estimation, best represents a model for other teams to emulate, and which embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST.  It remains FIRST’s most prestigious award.

The EngiNERDs aim to spread the word of FIRST in a way that is truly impactful, and inspires others to pass their inspiration onto others. FIRST FORWARD, if you will. 

Team 2337 Wins Michigan State Championship Chairman's Award

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Photo Credit: Team 2337
Thanks to the immense efforts of all of the Students, Mentors, Parents, and Sponsors of the Team, The EngiNERDs have been honored with the 2013 Michigan State Championship Chairman's Award. 

This award, the most prestigious recognition given by the FIRST Robotics Competition Judges, qualified the Team for the World Championship in St. Louis. The NERDs will be competing with some of the Nation's finest Teams, and hopes to change our culture and the world.

Wow! Frisbee flies in NBC 25 Newsroom!

Story By: Joel Feick

Usually, the NBC 25 Newsroom is a pretty quiet place, full of serious discussion on the news of the day. But on this morning...whizzzz....the air was filled with....whoosh...frisbees!

As part of a demonstration on NBC 25 Today, members of the Grand Blanc High School Robotics team held a demonstration. They brought in a robot that launches frisbees 75 feet across the room. The group calls itself the "EngiNERDs". The head mentor from the team, Clint Bollinger says they recently won the Chairman's Award at a FIRST Robotics competition in Troy.

For the whole story, head over to NBC25's Website.

Bedford:  A Commitment to continuous improvement

Photo Credit: Brandi Bolinger
Although the EngiNERDs have already competed at their initial two District Events, the motto of "Continuous Improvement" still holds true. The EngiNERDs' Students and Mentors are working together to make replacement and upgrade parts for the 2013 competition robot for the Bedford District Event. The robot's shooter and disc manipulator have undergone several iterations, and now being subjected to another design change.

Students receive training on proper machining techniques, including how to use a numerical control mill and lathe. Before using the machines, the Students with with the Mentors to ensure that all of the calculations on the CAD working drawings are correct, and then they are given the opportunity to use the tooling. 

The community outreach and management sections are diligently working to distribute materials for other teams to "Join the Pull" for Faith, and collect supplies to create cards for injured soldiers. NERDo and NERDette will also be making an appearance at the Bedford District. 

Pulling Together For Faith

Along with the support of the Grand Blanc Community, The EngiNERDs collected nearly 200 pounds for the Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis in the 2012-2013 season. 

The over 330,000  abs are donated on behalf of an honorary Team Member, Faith, who lives in the St.Louis area and struggles with a genetic disorder. Tabs are recycled and the proceeds are used to keep the house open. 

Want to help Faith, too? Join "The Pull" and we'll send you everything you need to get started!
Photo Credit: Team 2337

Team 2337 hosts Grand Blanc District Competition

Photo Credit: Daniel J. Ernst
The EngiNERDs hosted the inaugural Grand Blanc FIRST Robotics Competition District Event during week 4 of the FIRST in Michigan Districts.

Grand Blanc High School played host to 40 Teams throughout Michigan, all competing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Visitors included GBCS Superintendant Dr. Norm Abdella, Depuity Superintendant Clarence Garner, 26th District Senator David Robertson, and many representatives from the City's government and Grand Blanc Community Schools. Team members, parents and alumni volunteered their time to ensure that the event was a huge success.
Local elementary schools brought more than 500 young students who were given tours of the event, including a hands-on, up-close look at many of the event's competing robots. Attendees were given the opportunity to operate a DiVinci Surgical robot, and witness one of the many applications of FIRST Robotics in the real world.

Well Wishes for Wounded Warriors



Attendes of the Grand Blanc District Event assisted Team 2337 in making over 120 cards for wounded men and women of the Armed Forces. 

Cards will be sent to the Warrior and Family Support Center for distribution to servicemen and servicewomen who have been injured while on duty. Cards will also be given to local MP Units of the US Army who are returning from or deploying for tours in Afghanistan. 

The EngiNERDs will be hosting a card-making table at the Bedford District and Michigan State Championship where participants may create a card. Teams may also make cards in advance and donate them to the cause at the event. 

The TEam is Going Green!

As part of Team 2337's "Going Green" initiative, the Grand Blanc District Event distributed reusable water bottles to all of the event volunteers. Upon checking in for their assignment, each volunteer was individually asked to do their part to support the efforts of the event.

Coolers of water and dispensers were donated by a local business, so no bottles of water or other beverages were purchased for the nearly 175 volunteers. This allowed the event to create less trash and lowered the competition's harmful impact on the environment.

The EngiNERDs worked to ensure that plastic bottles and all returnable cans purchased by Teams were recycled, and pulled aluminum can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. Team 2337's efforts to "Go Green" extends to their facility and community through the Underwriter's Laboratories Safety Ambassador Program.

EngiNERDs Compete at Kettering District

Team 2337 competed at the 2013 Kettering University FIRST Robotics Competition District Event on February 28 through March 2.

Mentor Jody Nickola was honored as a nominee for the Woodie Flowers Award, which celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design. 

Safety Captain Jordan Nickola earned the "Safety Star" award, and was honored along with Stefan Carter as a nominee for the Dean's List Award, which honors outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary.
The Team also earned the "Excellence in Engineering" Award, which is given to a Team who has created a robot with advantageous machine feature(s), and recognizes any aspect of engineering elegance that reinforces the principles of FIRST.
Photo Credit: Daniel Ernst

2013 Dean's List Nominees

Jordan Nickola
Jordan was selected as one of the 2013 Dean's List nominees because she has worked diligently to ensure that her teammates, both students and mentors alike, conduct themselves with dignity, perform tasks in a safe manner, and encourages everyone to be kind to others and help them when they are in need.  

Jordan serves as Team Captain, as one of three presenters for the Chairman’s Award submission, and was elected Safety Captain for the third consecutive year. Jordan volunteers to help with tasks that are outside of her expertise and will often come early or stay late to ensure that they are competed. She aims to create a conducive learning environment for and accommodate the learning styles and personalities of each person on the team, regardless of their role.
Stefan Carter
Stefan was chosen for the 2013 Dean's List nomination because he has taken on multiple leadership roles that have impacted not only the success of the Team, but also taught others that inspiration, hard work, and dedication can yield amazing results. His dedication has been unmatched, and he has worked diligently to spread the word of FIRST in a very short period of time. 

Stefan has been committed to building the EngiNERDs' robot, is one of the three Chairman's Award presenters, and has been a major contributor to the Chairman's Team.

VIP pit passes

The EngiNERDs are busy sending VIP pit passes to our government officials and sponsors. 

The team hopes to engage these partners to create a strong connection and further the goals of the team and FIRST. The EngiNERDs are excited to see these partners and show them the work that we have been able to achieve with their contributions.

Spreading the Message of "Safety Smart"


Students from the EngiNERDs made their way to several local elementary schools to teach about the Underwriter's Laboratories Safety Smart Program. Subjects included health, nutrition, germ prevention and recycling.

Children in grades kindergarten through third grade had the opportunity to work with Team 2337's Safety group on practical applications of information, took information home to their parents, and watched a movie that demonstrated how fun Safety can be.

Visiting the DiVinci Surgical Robot at McLaren 

On December 15th, the EngiNERDs got a chance to visit McLaren Hospital to see an example of how robotics is used in real life. 

The EngiNERDs were able to use da Vinci medical robots and were shown videos of doctors using them in actual surgery. The EngiNERDs were put through some virtual and real life exercises that doctors using the machines have to go through even bringing in some fun competitions, such as best times for moving a rubber ring around a copper path. 

UL Safety Smart® Ambassador Program

As UL Safety Smart® Ambassadors, the EngiNERDs educate young children to practice safe, healthy and environmentally responsible behaviors. We’ve launched our program, focusing on Kindergarten through 3rd Grades with the following two Safety Smart® topics Safety Smart Germs & Your Health! (Kindergarten) and Safety Smart Goes Green! (1st-3rd grades).

The EngiNERDs have partnered with Grand Blanc Community Schools to provide Safety Smart® training as part of the curriculum for the Michigan Model for Health® - Personal Health and Wellness Safety Education.

2012 Extra Life Gaming Marathon

What is Extra Life?
Extra Life is a 24-hour gaming marathon to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, and the NERDs play for Hurley Medical Center in Flint.

When is Extra Life? 
The NERDs will be playing from 10 am on Saturday, October 27th to 10am on Sunday, October 28th.

Where:
We'll be playing at the Home of the EngiNERDs, Premier Tooling Systems