Robo Challengers FTC Team #21482, founded in 2022, is a Plymouth-Canton, Michigan youth robotics team participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge.
Our mission is to give students meaningful, hands-on opportunities to grow as problem-solvers, engineers, communicators, collaborators, and leaders. Through robotics, students design, build, program, test, and operate a competition robot while learning to apply technical concepts, troubleshoot challenges, document their work, present to judges, and work effectively as a team.
The program directly benefits students by providing practical STEM experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Students gain exposure to engineering design, coding, CAD, electronics, mechanical systems, strategy, project management, public speaking, and community engagement. These experiences help build technical ability, confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
Robo Challengers also has a strong community-facing mission. The team participates in outreach events, public demonstrations, school and community showcases, and conversations with civic leaders, businesses, families, and younger students. Through these activities, students help make STEM more visible and approachable in the community, introduce younger children to robotics and engineering, and show families how programs like FIRST can support academic and personal growth. The team also advocates for continued access to youth STEM opportunities and works to build stronger connections between students, schools, local organizations, businesses, and community leaders.
Funds raised through the project support essential team expenses such as robot parts, tools, electronics, competition registration, outreach materials, team apparel, transportation, event participation, and other program costs directly connected to student learning and participation. Reducing these financial barriers helps ensure students can fully participate in competitions, outreach, and technical learning opportunities.
We are seeking fiscal sponsorship through HCB so the team can operate with appropriate financial oversight, accept tax-deductible donations, receive employer matching gifts, work with sponsors, and manage program funds transparently without placing financial or administrative responsibility on individual families.
Fiscal sponsorship provides a sustainable structure for community members, businesses, and employers to support youth STEM education while allowing students and mentors to focus on the program itself. It also helps expand access to equipment, competitions, outreach activities, and other learning opportunities that strengthen both the student experience and the team’s ability to serve the broader community.
Robo Challengers is rooted in Michigan and is committed to creating opportunities for students to learn, lead, serve their community, and build skills that can support their future education and careers in STEM and beyond.
