"Over the past ten years…I have never encountered a high quality program like RoboRAVE International. … It is this ease and low cost involvement that enable the program to be easily replicated in other states and through organizations such as American Indian Science and Engineering Society."
-- Jon K. Price, Ph.D, Program manager, Research & Evaluation, Intel® Corporation, Corporate Affairs Group
Accomplished link
RoboRAVE International takes advantage of young people's natural desire to design, make, test, and perfect something of their own. Eighty-five percent of 2012 participants said RoboRAVE increases their interest in science or technology, and 74% say it would help them attend college. Program leaders believe that, with sufficient funds, they could reach 1,000 more students next year.
RoboRAVE offers diverse sponsorship opportunities ranging from several hundred dollars to sponsor lodging for a team to thousands of dollars to sponsor a competition to larger grants that would help RoboRAVE dramatically expand its reach. The program is exploring opportunities to expand beyond New Mexico to states including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky,New York, and Texas, RoboRAVE also offers rewarding opportunities for STEM professionals to volunteer with young people in an exciting competitive environment.
Funders and PartnersFUNDERS: Intel (our founding sponsor), Century Link, New Mexico Tech University and
Los Alamos National Laboratory
IN-KIND PARTNERS: 2012 New Mexico Legislature, SMG, Education First, HP, New Mexico MESA, Lego Education, Center for Hands On Learning, Rio Images, Bueno Foods, Creamland Dairy, and Shamrock
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy.
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
Ensure work is sustainable.
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
Create high impact partnerships
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.