10.28.23
Canon Solutions America sponsored Robotics Team Dirty Mechanics (#3932) in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition to take place April 17-20, 2024.
Located in Boca Raton, Florida, The Dirty Mechanics team consists of students from multiple schools across the South Florida region. Having been established in 2011, this year makers team’s 12th year in operation. The team has eleven volunteer mentors who have backgrounds in the engineering and business industries who guide student members.
Canon Solutions America principal engineer Dave Ferguson is one such volunteer, offering technical guidance helping kids develop soft skills, improve communication, increase confidence, and booster leadership capabilities.
“One of the benefits of this program is teaching soft skills, such as problem-solving, and dealing with difficult situations,” said Ferguson. “Many towns offer athletic programs, which is good for health and confidence, but there are not many STEM programs that allow for avenues where students can go for skill development, camaraderie, adrenaline, and competition, except for FIRST Robotics.”
Last spring, Dirty Mechanics build “Sargent Sparky,” a four-foot robot that competed in the FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas. That year, Canon also helped fund travel for anther South Florida team the Children of the Swamp (#179).
Team members alums have continued with college educations in STEM programs and have gone on to work in companies like Canon. 15 alums have also returned as mentors for the Dirty Mechanics team.
Ferguson added, “besides STEM, the team focuses on business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. If the students want to become business leaders and owners, they need to know how to do it. We focus on the business side while simultaneously troubleshooting and solving problems individually and as a group, which can even be more challenging. It is amazing to see students return to the program after achieving professional success, now looking to help future generations excel in science and technology.”
Located in Boca Raton, Florida, The Dirty Mechanics team consists of students from multiple schools across the South Florida region. Having been established in 2011, this year makers team’s 12th year in operation. The team has eleven volunteer mentors who have backgrounds in the engineering and business industries who guide student members.
Canon Solutions America principal engineer Dave Ferguson is one such volunteer, offering technical guidance helping kids develop soft skills, improve communication, increase confidence, and booster leadership capabilities.
“One of the benefits of this program is teaching soft skills, such as problem-solving, and dealing with difficult situations,” said Ferguson. “Many towns offer athletic programs, which is good for health and confidence, but there are not many STEM programs that allow for avenues where students can go for skill development, camaraderie, adrenaline, and competition, except for FIRST Robotics.”
Last spring, Dirty Mechanics build “Sargent Sparky,” a four-foot robot that competed in the FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas. That year, Canon also helped fund travel for anther South Florida team the Children of the Swamp (#179).
Team members alums have continued with college educations in STEM programs and have gone on to work in companies like Canon. 15 alums have also returned as mentors for the Dirty Mechanics team.
Ferguson added, “besides STEM, the team focuses on business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. If the students want to become business leaders and owners, they need to know how to do it. We focus on the business side while simultaneously troubleshooting and solving problems individually and as a group, which can even be more challenging. It is amazing to see students return to the program after achieving professional success, now looking to help future generations excel in science and technology.”