Community Outreach

We are Team 34 – The Rockets!! Our FIRST Robotics Team represents Limestone County Career Technical Center in Athens, Alabama. Our team is comprised of all classes offered at the school. The Career Technical Center offers classes in sixteen different technical programs to students in grades 10th-12th. In addition, there are three Social Studies courses, Gifted Education classes (grades 3rd-12th), an Occupational Prep class, and a Co-op class. Our school serves students from eight different high schools: six county schools, one city school, and one private school. This gives us a very strong advantage to spread the spirit of FIRST to many students in our area.

Future Careers in Science and Technology

8th grade Career Fair at LCCTC

Team 34 participated in a Career Fair at LCCTC for approximately 800 8th graders in Limestone County. Any student attending LCCTC is eligible to apply for the Robotics Team. The Career Fair was instrumental in recruiting students for programs at LCCTC and subsequently for the Robotics Team.


UAH Adventures in Engineering Day

Members of our Robotics team attended our local university’s Adventures in Engineering Day--- a one-day program to promote careers in science and engineering to high school students.


Lego Day Camp at Calhoun Community College

The students participated in a Lego Day Camp at Calhoun Community College. All middle school students interested in our FIRST Robotics team learned how to build a Lego Robot. The students had the opportunity to tour the Aerospace Training Facility. The students also visited the site of the future Robotics Training Facility which will lead to future careers in robotics.

Community Awareness and Outreach

Proud Supporter of Alabama FIRST Lego League
Team 34 started, sponsored, and mentored two new FLL teams in Limestone County this year: Team 4310 – Rocket Boosters and Team 4927 — Kat Skratch. In addition, our team has been a strong supporter of the FLL Alabama State Tournament for the last several years. Our students have served as mentors, referees, judges, and have also assisted in the behind-the-scenes setup for the tournament.

Quote to Team 34 from Jammie Patrick, FLL Team 4927’s Coach:
“Thanks for getting us started! We won first in the Project Presentation Division. The kids are all still walking very tall :)

I had a great experience and the kids and parents are already talking about next year...and a second robot!

Thank you again for getting us started...we are proud to be a part (or a sprout) of your team and FIRST!!!”


Cooper & Company

Our team was asked to appear on a local television program “Cooper & Company” in hopes of informing our community about the great programs, such as FIRST Robotics, that our school has to offer.


Mentoring and Assisting Rookie FRC Teams
Team 34 students and mentors present FIRST robotics informational assistance for regional competitive events to Walker County Career Technical Center teachers for Team 2918


Leadership

Team 34 furnished the tuition for one of our team captains, Will Patrick, to attend the Alabama Youth Leadership Program as a representative for our team.



Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful

Team 34 adopted the mission of our local Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful (KALB) by hoping to make each Regional that we attend a “Litter-Free Event” by distributing “litter bags” for all team members to place their trash in while sitting in the stands. Last year, Team 34 teamed up with Steelcase employees to participate in Adopt-A-Spot Trash Pick Up. The students and employees are responsible for a section of roadway in front of our school. We want our environment to be clean!!


Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge

Team 34 has volunteered for the annual Chili Challenge for the last 6 years. Chili Challenge is the largest fundraiser for Hospice of Limestone County. Our team always sponsors the activities for the children’s corner. This year we did face-painting, button-making, and the little ones even got to drive a VEX robot all while learning about FIRST Robotics!


Valentine Visit to Huntsville Hospital’s Pediatric Unit

Team members handed out Beanie Babies to pediatric patients in Huntsville Hospitals’ Pediatric Wing. The team members were able to briefly sit down and visit with the children.


Camp Hope Volunteering

A few members of our team created a scrapbook and Photostory DVD for Camp Hope, a local grief camp for children under the age of 12 who have lost family members throughout the year. This scrapbook and DVD will be used to show parents and guardians what Camp Hope has to offer for their children. Several of our team members also volunteered as grief counselors for this one-day summer camp.


Birdie Thornton

A few members of our team traveled to Birdie Thornton, a day camp for adults with special needs, to assist in making Christmas scrapbooks to hand out to their families at their annual Christmas party.


Halloween Science Lab

Team members presented a Halloween Magic Chemistry Show and Haunted Science Lab for 2nd graders in our community. The students used basic science demonstrations and hands-on science activities to spark the interest of science in elementary students.



Although our team has some very generous sponsors, we still fundraise throughout the year. Fundraising gives us an opportunity to go out and share information about FIRST Robotics, about our team, and about our school.

Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s