Ten years ago, The Green Machine began building its first-ever FIRST robot, taking over the kitchen of founding captain Chris Miller. Since then, we’ve expanded from 14 members to 50; our STEM outreach extends worldwide, and we’ve firmly established FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST LEGO League and Junior FIRST Lego League in Edina. None of this would be possible without the support of our corporate and individual sponsors. This year, more than 80% of our sponsors are multi-year donors, most notably Medtronic Inc., Fridley, MN, and the Edina Education Fund. Both of these sponsors have been aiding and assisting our team since the beginning. “From the very start, we understood that what the team was doing was more than just building a robot,” says Karen Nelson, executive director of the Edina Education Fund. “We have seen what happens when students participate in a program that allows them to learn by doing, problem-solving in a real-time, real-world challenge.”
The Green Machine would not be the team it is today without the continuing commitment of Dow Water & Process Solutions, Cyberonics, Cargill, Graco, Stratasys, Symantec, Crosstown Surgery, and Elicit LLC. This season we are pleased to welcome as 2015 sponsors PTC, Emerson, The Nerdery, KING, The Violet Edge and Alignex. Many of our contributors are also longtime sponsors 3M Co., Accumet Materials, Calvary Lutheran Church, Dunwoody, NPC Robotics, WayTek Wire, Wanner Engineering, Jerry’s Hardware, The Queen of Cakes and TJ’s Restaurant. To our Green Machine Boosters, your generous donations and fundraising efforts have brought us enthusiasm, new volunteers and new ideas. A special thank you to the Edina High School Thespians, for sharing the theater workshop with us, and to Edina Public Schools. The Green Machine thanks all of its sponsors for continuing to support our team and FIRST Robotics.