Mentors and Sponsors

"The only difference between (robotics) and all the other (sports) - every kid on our teams can turn pro.  There's a job out there for every one of these kids."  

     “We need technology professionals to show youth that they have more options.  Mentors need to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of education, plus careers in science and technology.  In two months, a FIRST mentor can provide a student with learning and inspiration to impact a lifetime.”  
- Dean Kamen, Inventor of the Segway, iBot, and Founder of the FIRST Robotics Competition
     The students of team 5719 of the FIRST Robotics Competition at David & Mary Thomson C. I. aspire to build upon experiences and past successes.  To make this happen, the team is currently seeking the following types of assistance from the community:
  • Mentors   - Expertise in following areas:
    • Engineering (mechanical, electrical), computer programming, designer / CAD operator, machinist, technician, mechanic, carpentry, welding
    • Marketing, management, fundraising, graphic design, writing, public speaking, travel logistics
    • Commitment:  January to March - Two to 10 hours per week,  less in other months
  • Sponsors - Financial (tax-deductible), in-kind 

Benefits of Mentoring
"As you climb the ladder, reach down and pull someone up with you."   - Adriana Brown, President and COO of Project Eureka!

  • Provide guidance, expertise, and working environment for success:
    • Steer students in the right direction.
    • Ask probing questions that encourage students to reflect and clarify their thinking.
  • Teach life-long skills beneficial for success in a career:
    • Thinking about a problem.
    • Encourage creativity, thinking "outside the box".
    • Perseverance and patience to overcome challenges.
    • Adapting to changing circumstances.
    • Empathy, relating well with other team members, and learning to be forgiving.
  • Offer insights on realities of careers - "what it takes" to be successful:
    • Opportunity at real-world experiences
  • Share passion for love of career work
    • Instill confidence in youth
  • Feeling of joy and satisfaction from inspiring youth:
    • Help to shape their future
    • Watch youth learn and grow
    • Help them to discover what they want to do in their future
  • Invest in today's youth to become tomorrow's competent employees
     The following online module provides an overview of the role of mentors and coaches, especially for those new to FIRST programs.  By completing the module, the new mentor and coach can reflect on the roles for the FIRST teams:
 FIRST Robotics Mentors - Benefits on becoming a mentor.
Promotional video describing the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Please feel free to contact Edmund Kim who is happy to answer your questions.

​Benefits of Sponsoring

  • Invest in today's youth to become your future employees.
  • Connect with and inspire the youth in your community.
  • Strengthen the reputation of your organization.
  • Visibility of your company at all events (tournaments, outreach, schools) attended by team members.
  • Open volunteer opportunities for mentoring, inspiring youth.

​    Financial donations via cheque are tax-deductable.  A CRA Charity Receipt will be issued to sponsors as the Pink Titans team is based in the Toronto District School Board.

     Sponsors will have their logo with weblinks displayed at the Home Page of PinkTitans.ca, the team's website.  Depending on the type of sponsorship, logos can also be displayed on the robot and the team banner at events attended by the Pink Titans. 

​     Each District Event is attended by several dozen other teams, their families, and visitors from across the city, country, and internationally.  FIRST Robotics events are broadcast online, enabling national and international exposure for the sponsor.

     FIRST Robotics Competition has over 60,000 students participating on 2,300 teams in Canada, USA, and internationally.  In 2019, 70,000+ people and 1,400+ teams from 70+ countries attended the FIRST World Championship in Detroit, Michigan and
Houston Texas, USA, providing huge international exposure for team sponsors.

     Please contact Edmund Kim at Edmund.Kim [at] TDSB [dot] ON [dot] CA who is happy to answer your questions.
Pit Area at the Ontario District Newmarket Event (March 2023).
Left:  Ontario District Championship, held at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.  Eighty FRC teams competed here.  (April 2019).  Centre:  Ontario District Championship at the FIRSTOntario Centre in Hamilton (April 2023).  Eighty teams attend over several days.  
​Right: FIRST World Championship at The Dome at America’s Centre in St. Louis, Missouri, USA (April 2016).
     Read the full testimonial by Nithusan Ranjanathan (captain of 2015 FIRST Robotics Team 5719) on the impact of the FIRST Robotics program on his career pathway:
  • "... it helped me to develop valuable team work skills by the way that we must co-operate as a team."
  • "... time management ... is just one of the valuable lessons that our members learned apart from the vast knowledge of the mechanical and electrical aspects."
  • "... I finally got to make connections from what we learned (in school) to the real world.  This in turn helped me to pick an appropriate career path."
  • "... it is a truly exceptional experience which every student should indulge in."

Why Support Children's ​Interests ​In Robotics?
​​Benefits Of Robotics Education

  • Fostering STEM-focused skills of Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking:
    • Opportunities for comprehensive engagement:
      • Examining and understanding design systems
      • Fostering systems-thinking approach to problem-solving
    • Encouraging processes of problem-solving:  Curiosity, designing, making, connecting, applying, extending, revisiting
    • Opportunities for meeting and working with diverse people, academically and socially, with different view-points and perspectives
  • Competition aspect of FIRST and VEX Robotics programs enhances learning
  • Appeal to diverse demographics and age groups
  • Providing experiences of demonstrating grit and perseverance in preparation for overcoming future challenges and making wise decisions in life outside robotics.
    • Students take ownership of their robots
      • Building sense of accomplishment
      • Building confidence
  • Practicing and refining fine motor skills
  • Instills and fuels passion for learning new skills and knowledge.  
  • Instills motivation to succeed at academics in pursuit of long-term career goals.​
​Stories of Benefits of FIRST Robotics Program

Statistics of Impact of FIRST Robotics Programs On Students

Source: FIRSTInspires.org
Source: FIRSTRoboticsCanada.com