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Paola High School

"I help mentor students with the robotics team at Paola High School, and would like to nominate the school for this opportunity. I would like to see it split between robotics and the skilled trades classes, to give the largest impact for students learning skills for trades and engineering careers. There are 25 students on the robotics team this year, and many students take trade classes at Paola.

After using 3D printers to enhance designs of the last 3 years of robots with the robotics team, we could use a CNC router to make better parts for our team.  We saw how students benefit from being able to make a part directly from something they design in CAD programs with 3D printers, and the router would open further design possibilities because we could make aluminum parts, including those requiring more complex bends.

As our team budget is not regular enough to cover equipment like this, we would need a grant to purchase it.  However, from the experience from other robotics teams, the router cost would allow the grant to be split with skilled trades class and club so that they could purchase equipment, including those necessary to support projects like the tiny home that they have worked on.  These are projects that give students introduction to construction and trades that prepare them for future careers."

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