LEARN's high school robotics team, The Red Hot Techie Peppers, are going to the World Championship!  And, they could use your help to get there.

The kids have been hard at work this year, building robots, writing software and doing a huge amount of community service to help other kids get excited about STEM.   Our kids are tackling projects that would bend the minds of even expert product development teams.  

The Red Hot Techie Peppers' Accomplishments
The Techie Peppers have had a long history of success.  They have:

·       Ranked first in their division throughout this season

·       Ranked in the top ten teams in Missouri every year and

·       Earned top awards in nearly every tournament they have ever attended

Perhaps more importantly, the Techie Peppers work hard to serve their community.  For example, they:

·       Are currently building an electric car for a child with spina bifida so that the child will be able to explore his world independently

·       Have extended a hand to other FTC teams, helping them build their first robots, replacing robots and tools that have been stolen and teaching them how to write code

·       Volunteer up to 70 hours per month per team member to mentor younger kids, teach programming and structural engineering to FIRST LEGO League team members and serve as camp counselors at LEARN’s summer camps

What Is the FIRST World Championship?
Now, the Peppers are on their way to the World Championship where the best robots come to strut their stuff.  This four-day “Super Bowl of Robotics” fills the 550,000+ square feet of America’s Center, Edward Jones Dome and Union Station in St. Louis, MO with:

·       1,394 high school teams from over 39 countries

·       30,000+ kids from around the world; teams from over thirty countries will be attending

·       2,400+ volunteers

·       65,000+ spectators including teachers, fans, family members, VIP guests and representatives from high-profile technical companies, universities and the press from around the world

Why The Peppers Need Your Help
The kids can't get to World without your help.  They have to stock up on robot parts.  (Robots eat money!)  They have to print notebooks and other tournament materials.  They have to design and print additional displays, and they have to raise their travel expenses.   And, they only have a few weeks  to succeed.  

Meet The Red Hot Techie Peppers


Alex
My name is Alex, and this is my third year with FTC. This year I am working on the software team, which I am enjoying a lot. We are programming with Java on new Android phones. I like to code, listen to music, watch scary movies, and play games with my friends.


Anna
I’m Anna, and I’m 16 years old. I am very much a bookworm. I also love to solder and use power tools. After five years in FLL, it was a thrill to get my hands on things I can cut and drill!  I've been a Pepper for four years.


Bailey
I’m Bailey and I’m 13. I am home schooled and started robotics four years ago with an FLL team. The first year we took first place at regionals, but our region didn’t have a ticket to World Championship, so we went to the North American Championship in San Diego where we took the first-place Inspiration award.


Chris
I am a sophomore and this is my first year as a Robotics Team Member. I spent Monday nights learning last year and this led me to want to join up fully! When I was younger, I took things apart all the time, including every pen in the house. I liked Industrial Tech in Middle School and am in Advanced Wood classes in High School. I like being part of the Red Hot Techie Peppers because we are encouraged to think up ideas, test them, and learn from our successes and mistakes.


David
My name is David Qi, and I am 15 years old. This is my fourth year with The Red Hot Techie Peppers FTC team. I’ve done FLL before, but this is totally different; it’s more advanced. In FLL, we used plastic LEGO pieces, while in FTC we use metal. I like to do a lot of things, but band and robotics take up a lot of my time, so I don’t usually get that much time to do anything else. I love them both, so that’s fine. Robotics has really helped me. I’ve learned how to work with others to brainstorm ideas and then actually bring those ideas to life by building them. FTC is awesome, and I definitely want to do it next year too.


Davis
My name is Davis, and I’m 16 years old. This is my first year in First Tech Challenge and I’m excited to get started. Although this is my first year in FTC, I’m no stranger to the First program, having done 5 years of First Lego League previously. It was a lot of fun. I enjoy playing video games and doing projects for 4-H.


Isabelle
My name is Isabelle, and I am 16 years old. This is my third year on the FTC high school robotics team. In 8th grade I took a robotics class at my school, and that is where I discovered how great robotics is. I find it very challenging and look forward to furthering my knowledge by learning from my new teammates.


Josh
I am Josh. I am 17 years old, and this is my third year on the team. I have found robotics to be an excellent way to do what I love to do: build.


Katrina
My name is Katrina and I am 14 years old. This is my first year in high school robotics. My brother was in First Lego League so I got to watch him work a lot, I was never on the team. I like being on this team because everyone is so nice and it’s really fun to build the robot.


Michaela
Hi! My name is Michaela. I’m 16 years old. My favorite things to do are 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles and making jewelry. I’ve been a member of LEARN Science and Math Club for ten years. This is my fourth year participating in FTC.


Sola
My name is Sola, and I am 14 years old. I participated in the Learn Science and Math Club before, when I was younger, but soon got busy with other things. Last year I decided to come back to robotics. I am currently a part of the programming team.


Spencer
My name is Spencer, and I am 16 years old. This is my third year on the high school robotics team. I was involved in FLL for two years. I like the high school robotics team because there is a lot more freedom to be creative. I am a part of the assemblies team, building the ball shooter.


We have a lot of fun together!

Meet Our Robots


Hatch & Tabasco
We build two robots each year.  While our drivers are running and testing one of our 'bots, our hardware and software teams are building and refining the other.  This allows us to improve quickly.  Our 'bots are well protected with interior electronic mounts and protective exterior walls.  They are also strong, well-balanced and capable of doing every task on the competition field quickly and effectively.   Hatch and Tabasco have done us proud all season, and we look forward to showing what they can do at the World Championship.

The Rewards
There are so many,  many benefits of participation!  Of course, you will be giving America's future engineers, programmers, doctors and other technical types a leg up on their education.  Plus, you will earn the kids' undying gratitude.  Here are just some of the ways they will express their thanks:

Gifts up to $100
The kids will send you a hand-written thank you note and post a shout-out to you on Facebook.

Gifts up to $500
The kids will send you a hand-written thank you note, post shout-outs to you on Facebook and send you a Pepper hat.  (They are so spiffy!)

Gifts up to $1,000
The kids will send you a hand-written thank you note, post shout-outs to you on Facebook, send you a spiffy Pepper hat and t-shirt. 

Gifts of More Than $1,000
The kids will send you a hand-written thank you note, post shout-outs to you on Facebook, send you a spicy package of Pepper hat, t-shirt salsa, chips and spicy chocolate.   And, you will be invited to an open house to drive our 'bots on the competition field where we can convey our thanks and your gifts in person.  

About LEARN Science & Math Club


The Red Hot Techie Peppers are proud members of LEARN's robotics program.   LEARN Science & Math Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit.  Since 2004, LEARN has provided kids from the Kansas City metropolitan area with rich STEM experiences through the use of robotics, engineering and programming projects and laboratory experiments.  LEARN actively fosters the collaboration, organization and communication skills necessary to work and play together.

LEARN welcomes members from all walks of life and all backgrounds.  LEARN does not and will not limit membership on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender or national origin.  To participate in LEARN's programs,  one only needs to be either a primary school student, a parent of a student member or an affiliate and meet participation guidelines.

For more information about LEARN and its programs, visit:  LEARN Science And Math Club.