Local robotics teams get part of $3 million state grant

The Michigan Department of Education has awarded $3 million to 506 public and private school FIRST robotics teams across the state, including Holland-area teams.
The grants are part of the state’s continued investment in robotics programs, which have students learning about applications of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through building robots for competitions. This $3 million in grants adds to the more than $12 million Michigan has invested in FIRST teams since 2014.
“To invest in a stronger talent pipeline, we must invest in Michigan’s young people and the programs that prepare them for an evolving 21st-century global economy,” State Interim Superintendent Sheila Alles said. “It’s partnerships like these we see from these robotics programs - bringing business and education together - that help student understands the skills needed to be successful after high school, no matter their post-secondary career path.