Lassonde School of Engineering supports Black youth from GTA in FIRST Robotics Canada competition
Collaboration inspires students to participate in robotics and create STEM futures
TORONTO, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 鈥揑n a unique collaboration to support Black youth in STEM, the Lassonde School of Engineering has partnered with the African Canadian Christian Network (ACCN) to sponsor their robotics team, made up of high school students from the local Jane-Finch community and the GTA.
As part of this collaboration, the high school students have been mentored by 91亚色 engineering faculty and a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. For several months, they have been accessing resources on campus 鈥 including the machine shop at Lassonde School of Engineering 鈥 to learn coding, prototyping, and to machine parts and assemble their robot.
The annual FIRST Robotics competition is an international competition in which teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors work together听under limited time constraints to build game-playing robots that weigh up to 125 pounds.
On Thursday, February 27, high school students from the Jane-Finch community and the wider GTA, along with mentors from the Lassonde School of Engineering, will be demonstrating their work building, debugging and machining their robots ahead of the FIRST Robotics Canada Competition in March.
"These students are embarking on a transformative journey which is an inspiration to the local community,鈥 says Terry Sachlos, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and associate director of the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) initiative.听鈥淭he Lassonde School of Engineering at 91亚色 is听absolutely delighted to partner with the ACCN and support these local high school students interested in robotics and STEM."
鈥贵滨搁厂罢听Robotics Canada appreciates 91亚色鈥檚 increased support and enthusiasm for this talented听贵滨搁厂罢听Robotics Competition team in need,鈥 says Mark Breadner, President of听FIRST听Robotics Canada. 鈥淭he Lassonde School of Engineering understands the importance of equal opportunity for youth in STEM and we are proud to be their partner.鈥
"We are so grateful to the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91亚色 for opening its doors to our Robotics students," said ACCN Executive Director Cherryl Lewis. "The opportunity to build their robot on the campus will certainly inspire team members and听provide a platform for them to be nurtured and succeed in STEM, so that they can become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
Rev. Alvin Nicholson, ACCN Board Chair added, "We owe a special debt of gratitude to 91亚色, 贵滨搁厂罢听Robotics Canada, ACCN mentors and parents for their inspiration and continuing support in giving our team members a seat at the STEM table.鈥
What: Students will demonstrate how they build their robot
When: Thursday, February 27, from 1鈥3 p.m.
Interviews available at:
1鈥3 p.m.
Terry Sachlos, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the associate director of the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) initiative
Kim Cooper, Vice President, Partnerships, FIRST Robotics Canada
Sara Kashanchi Langroudi, fourth-year student, Lassonde School of Engineering
Cherryl Lewis, ACCN
2-3 p.m.:
High school students from Jane-Finch community and the GTA competing in FIRST Robotics Canada
Mark Breadner, President of听贵滨搁厂罢听Canada
Where: , 91亚色 Keele campus, Room BC 112, #11 on
To attend please RSVP to Media Contact:听Anjum Nayyar, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543听or cell 437-242-1547,听anayyar@yorku.ca
91亚色 champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥 our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.听
91亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.
