Track: Computer Science & Tech
Why and how does your local industry promote hands-on robot building for k-16 student competitions? What’s in it for them, and you? Learn how to garner support from academia, industry and the community to prepare students for the workforce, grow the economy, and build a better future.
Robot demos from FIRST Robotics High School teams from Chaparral High School and Globe High School, and VEX teams from Tucson and Casa Grande. Talk to the kids who built the robots. Hear their stories! Become involved as a student, mentor, volunteer, or sponsor!’s culture.
Presenters:
- Carol Popovich, Senior STEM Outreach Programs Representative, Microchip Technology, Inc.
- VEX Robotics teams
- Dr. Betsy Hargrove
- Avondale teacher
Carol Popovich is the Senior STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Outreach Programs Representative for Microchip Technology Inc. Additionally, she is the Arizona Regional Director of FIRST®. Ms. Popovich wears several hats in this role. As a grant writer, she is the Principle Investigator for the Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) “FIRST Robotics Clubs Development in Rural Arizona,” which includes team recruitment and retention, budget management, and promoting FIRST in Arizona among underserved demographic in rural communities. Ms. Popovich also Co-Chairs the Arizona FIRST Robotics Competition Arizona Regional Planning Committee. Additionally, Ms. Popovich supports Vex robotics efforts in Arizona representing Microchip an a sponsor and Event Partner. Ms. Popovich’s experience throughout her 20-year career with Microchip includes roles as Business Analyst and coordinator of the Microchip Academic Program. In the latter role, she interfaced with educators in the K-12 levels, encouraging them to incorporate the Microchip architecture into their curriculum, with the result of seeding the next generation of engineers.
Ms. Popovich received her Bachelor of Science in Business/Management from the University of Phoenix.