L3Harris Launches Mentoring Program for Student Robotics Teams

  • By Kristal Kuykendall
  • 12/17/21

Aerospace and defense contractor and IT services provider L3Harris Technologies has unveiled a new program for L3Harris employees to mentor student robotics teams at 47 schools in 15 states.

With coaching and guidance from L3Harris volunteers and financial help from the L3Harris Foundation, the mentors will help student groups to design and build cutting-edge robots alongside funds to help students travel to regional robotics competitions, such as VEX, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics, the company said in a news release.

The student teams receiving the support are from elementary, middle and high schools in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

“L3Harris volunteers will help students learn real-world problem-solving skills through team collaborations and hands-on competitions — an approach that has led to some of today’s greatest innovations,” L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik said in the news release. “We are proud to support programs that help increase interest in STEM and foster much-needed talent to drive future innovation.”

L3Harris and its employees have long supported robotics, rocketry, and other student technology challenges as part of the company’s commitment to philanthropy, employee volunteerism in STEM, and mission-aligned community initiatives. For example, the L3Harris Investing for Tomorrow program empowered employees to support approximately 530 virtual and other community service projects in 2020.

Schools selected for robotics team mentors from L3Harris are generally located in a region where there is an L3Harris facility or office, the company said, but the program is not strictly limited to schools in those locations, a company spokesman said. The aerospace and defense technology innovator has about 47,000 employees around the world. Find a full list of L3Harris locations at the AerospaceExport website.

Schools are nominated for the program by L3Harris employees, who apply for funding for a robotics team near the employee’s work or home; schools interested in being considered for a L3Harris mentor can apply by emailing [email protected].

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].


Featured

  • abstract geometric pattern of glowing interconnected triangles, hexagons, and circles in blue, gold, and white, spread across a dark navy-to-black gradient background

    OpenAI Introduces 'Operator' AI for Performing Web Tasks

    OpenAI has announced "Operator," an AI agent designed to perform web-based tasks autonomously using its own browser. Currently available as a research preview for Pro users in the United States, the tool aims to automate everyday activities such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes.

  • digital illustration of Estonia with glowing neural network-like connections spreading across the map

    Estonia to Roll Out ChatGPT Edu for all Secondary Schools

    In a nationwide artificial intelligence program dubbed "AI Leap 2025," the country of Estonia plans to provide free access to leading AI applications for all secondary school students and teachers. The initiative will launch with a rollout of ChatGPT Edu to 20,000 high school students in grades 10-11 and their 3,000 teachers, beginning Sept. 1.

  • glowing digital brain made of blue circuitry hovers above multiple stylized clouds of interconnected network nodes against a dark, futuristic background

    Report: 85% of Organizations Are Leveraging AI

    Eighty-five percent of organizations today are utilizing some form of AI, according to the latest State of AI in the Cloud 2025 report from Wiz. While AI's role in innovation and disruption continues to expand, security vulnerabilities and governance challenges remain pressing concerns.

  • DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education Announces Accessibility Enhancements for DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education has updated DreamBox Math, an online math program for K–8 students to supplement core instruction, to improve accessibility for K–5 students, according to a news release. DreamBox Math provides personalized instruction by adapting to individual learners’ responses and providing an engaging, dynamic learning environment.