Benjamin Franklin High School Robotics Team Receives Grant From Bayer Fund

Benjamin Franklin High School Robotics Team Receives Grant From Bayer Fund

NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 18, 2021) – Benjamin Franklin High School is delighted and grateful to announce a $3,000 grant from the Bayer Fund. The money will be used to support their robotics team, Voodoo Voltage 4087, in its continuing participation in the FIRST Robotics program. 

FIRST enables teams of students to compete with others in building, designing, and programming their own robots to perform pre-assigned tasks, giving students a chance to get involved with real-world engineering. 

“The First Robotics program helps provide the necessary skills for young students to become STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] leaders,” said Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund. “This program not only inspires innovation but provides life capabilities such as communication and self-confidence. Bayer Fund is proud to provide grants to student teams to encourage their development into future scientists, engineers, and computer programmers.”

Bayer Fund’s sponsorship of FIRST Robotics teams continues the nonprofit’s intentional support of programs that improve STEM education. Over the past five years, Bayer Fund has contributed over $37 million to STEM outreach efforts.

Voodoo Voltage 4087, a popular program at BFHS with about 45 members on the team, has consistently made it to the world finals, most recently in 2020, and is excited to compete again this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This grant and the continuous support from Bayer will greatly support our team, enable us to improve our robot, and allow us to compete at numerous competitions – helping our robo dreams to come true!” said Colette Minor ’22.

For more information, please contact Eve Peyton at (504) 503-0062 or  epeyton@bfhsla.org. 

About Benjamin Franklin High School 

Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans’ most outstanding public charter school, has been preparing students for success through academic achievement since its founding in 1957. Consistently ranked as a “top public high school in the nation” by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, and Business Week, Franklin has received the highest School Performance School in  Louisiana, making it the No. 1 public school in the state, year after year. Ben Franklin is repeatedly named a National Blue Ribbon School, most recently in 2021, and produces numerous Presidential and National Merit Scholars each year. The exceptional students, faculty, and staff at Ben Franklin are the best and the brightest in New Orleans.  For more information, please visit bfhsla.org.

About Bayer Fund

Bayer Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education and community development projects. For more information, please visit https://www.fund.bayer.us.