Energy Wizards - "STEMpower Every Young Mind" initiative

Help Energy Wizards "STEMpower Every Young Mind" initiative.

Hello all, we are First Lego League (FLL) Robotics team Energy Wizards # 57531 from Peoria IL, a team of 6th and 7th graders from your community who are passionate about FLL program. This season we built innovative solution to solve a real world Ocean Exploration problem. Throughout the season we built and iterated on Robot Design, Programming, attachments and did community outreach sessions to help spread awareness and interest in STEM.

We as a team feel very proud to share that we won the Finalist Championship award at Illinois State qualifiers and advanced to the World Championship to be held in Houston, Texas from 16th -19th April

Recognition –

The team was recently recognized in a Mayor Proclamation by City Mayor Dr Rita Ali.

At State Championship were recognized for our STEM outreach efforts

Energy Wizards STEM and community commitment

This year throughout the season we found various opportunities to connect and inspire kids within the community. Start of the season we conducted multiple informative sessions in the North Peoria Library, Times Wheel of Museum etc; and we inspired roughly 30 plus kids which eventually lead into formation of 5 different teams. We mentored them on First Robotics program and coached them in their initial FLL journey. Today we can proudly say 3 out of these 5 rookie teams were able to reach state qualifiers which is a testament of our efforts and belief in First Robotics STEM program.

We also got an excellent opportunity to spend time teaching robotics and Lego building (Lego racing cars) to Neurodivergent kids (Unified Club @ Dunlap Middle School). We were so thrilled to work with them that we decided to sponsor a Lego kit for them. We organized 2 fund raising Alliance Tournaments locally and were able to raise money to fund a Lego Kit for them.

What mentored teams say about us:

Innovengers # 5552 - As a rookie team interaction with Energy Wizards helped us in, Robot design especially tire selections, robot height. Creating proper mounts for active attachments. Quick decoupling and coupling of attachment and getting feedback on innovation projects. Wishing them best at the World Championship.

Superior Sharks # 65070 - Energy Wizards team generously mentored us sharing their strategies, lesson learned and project insights. They showed core values and coopertition by helping us overcome early challenges in Robot Design and building. We are thankful for their support and wish them good luck at the World Championship

Energy Wizards dream - STEMpower Every Young Mind

Today as we get an opportunity to compete at World Championship, we want to leverage our success by giving back to the community who supported us. We are reaching out to every individual and institution in the community to help us complete our dream of sponsoring Lego kits with expansion kits. Here are few examples of where we plan to donate these kits within the community.

Special needs kids

Neuro divergent kids

Autistics kids

Kids at Center for Prevention and Abuse

Local schools

We would like to keep working in the community even after we graduate through FLL program in generating awareness towards STEM for the kids in the community by providing informational sessions and sharing our Rookie to World Championship journey.

What are we asking for -

We are planning to raise $5000 towards sponsoring Lego kits in the community. We strongly feel that we have made some difference in the community this year but together we can make a bigger impact as we ask for donations to fulfill our dream. We request everyone to join us in this journey of giving and lets STEMpower every young mind and give them a better future. Based on money collected we plan to give away as many kits as possible . Any surplus money we collect will be 100% donated.

Gratitude

All this would not have happened without Caterpillar Inc sponsoring us a Lego kit and registration fees for last 3 years. Kumon for sponsoring our innovation project expenses. Our coaches for their countless volunteer hours. Finally Parents, friends and community for supporting us at every stage of the journey. We are going to World Championship because of this support.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Warm regards

Tanishqa Pande

Energy Wizards # 57531

Special note- Our team Coach Sujatha Paruchuri's bank account will be the recipient of the donations.