MATE Inspiration for Innovation Received Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant
MONTEREY BAY, Calif. (PRWEB) November 30, 2018 -- MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) announced it received a grant for $30,000 from Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions, Inc., to further expand its reach of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
MATE II is a nonprofit organization that challenges students to apply STEM skills in an underwater robotics competition called the MATE ROV (remotely operated vehicle) Competition. Through these dedicated grant funds, MATE II will target underrepresented populations in specific locations in Alabama, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Washington with the goal of providing resources to get them involved in the competition and expose them to careers that they might not have otherwise considered. Motorola Solutions Foundation awards grants each year to organizations, such as MATE II, which support and advance public safety programs and technology and engineering education initiatives.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation,” said Jill Zande, president and executive director of MATE II. “These funds will allow us to reach out to and support students who might not otherwise participate in STEM, giving them access to a program that we know has the potential to be life-changing. We have seen it positively impact students’ education and career choices, not to mention their self-confidence and determination to succeed.”
The MATE ROV Competition requires students to brainstorm and engineer solutions to problems based on real world scenarios, from monitoring water quality to maintain healthy waterways to ensuring public safety. The competition challenges students from K through 12, community colleges and universities throughout four levels (EXPLORER, RANGER, NAVIGATOR and SCOUT) to design, build and test underwater robots to complete specified, simulated, real-life missions. Students also must organize themselves into mock companies, which encourages them to develop entrepreneurial thinking, innovate and work together to essentially manufacture, market and sell their product (a.k.a. the ROV).
Competition consists of a network of more than 30 regional contests that take place around the world each spring with the winning teams advancing to the international championship. The 2019 MATE International ROV Competition, June 20-22, is expected to bring together more than 1,000 students as they descend in Kingsport, Tennessee.
This year, Motorola grants will support programs that help more than three million students, teachers, first responders and community members around the globe. They have a specific focus on providing grants to programs that impact underrepresented populations, including females, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans and others.
“The Motorola Solutions Foundation is honored to and privileged to support the work of MATE II,” said Matt Blakely, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We believe in organizations that are fostering innovation, building partnerships and driving change, and we’re proud to be part of the positive impact they’re making in communities.”
For additional information on Motorola Solutions Foundation grants program, visit motorolasolutions.com/foundation. For more information on MATE II, visit https://mateii.org .
About MATE II:
MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to inspire and challenge students to learn and apply scientific, engineering and technical skills. By providing real-world underwater problems to solve, MATE II inspires creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation. MATE II, along with its sister organization the MATE Center, organizes the MATE International Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) competition and manages the network of 32 (and growing) regional competitions that take place around the world and feed into the international event. For more information on MATE II, the MATE ROV Competitions and annual giving campaign, visit https://mateii.org.
About the Motorola Solutions Foundation
The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions. With employees located around the globe, Motorola Solutions seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The foundation achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships and fostering innovation. Motorola Solutions Foundation focuses its funding on public safety, disaster relief, employee programs and education, especially in science, technology, engineering and math. For more information on Motorola Solutions Corporate and Foundation giving, visit http://www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation
Lynn Dohm, Marine Advanced Technology Education, http://www.marinetech.org/, +1 815.530.7307, [email protected]
Share this article