MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) announced it received a grant for $45,000 from Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions, Inc., to further expand its reach of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
MONTEREY, CALIF. (PRWEB) OCTOBER 30, 2019
MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) announced it received a grant for $45,000 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 Southern California, Illinois and South Florida 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 are so pleased to have been awarded Motorola Solutions Foundation funding again this year,” said Jill Zande, president and executive director of MATE II. “This funding will allow us to establish a regional competition program in Colorado, as well as to engage and support underserved students in South Florida and Southern California and inner-city youth in Chicago. We are excited to introduce these students to STEM via the MATE ROV Competition, and to help them realize there are education and career opportunities available to them in STEM fields.”
The MATE ROV Competition requires students to brainstorm and engineer solutions to problems based on real world scenarios, from removing plastics from our oceans to maintaining healthy waterways and 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 40 regional contests that take place around the world each spring with the winning teams advancing to the international championship. The 2020 MATE International ROV Competition, June 25-27, is expected to bring together more than 1,000 students as they descend in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
This year, Motorola grants will support programs that help more than two 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.
“We are very pleased to support the work of MATE II,” said Monica Mueller, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We believe in organizations that foster innovation and drive change, and we’re proud to be part of the positive impact they are making in the community.”
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 40 (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
This funding will allow us to establish a regional competition program in Colorado, as well as to engage and support underserved students in South Florida and Southern California and inner-city youth in Chicago.
