September in Overdrive: 3 Outreach Events, 2 Back-to-Back Weekends, and Countless Connections
September was a particularly busy and exciting month for TeraBridges! Over two back-to-back weekends, our students participated in three wonderful community events—the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, Spaceburgh, and Diwali Mela—connecting with more than 5,000 people through science, technology, robotics, and cultural celebrations.
At each event, our students brought their enthusiasm for STEM beyond the classroom, showcasing robotics, engaging children and families in hands-on activities, and demonstrating how science and innovation can bring communities together across cultures.
Beyond sharing our passion for STEM, we also used these opportunities to advocate for greater access to FIRST Robotics programs and introduce families and community members to the opportunities that robotics can create for young people.
We are particularly excited about the $90,000 Western Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics Grant Initiative, supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through PA FIRST. This initiative has the potential to kick-start new FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams across Western PA by helping schools and students overcome financial barriers through startup support and awards. We look forward to seeing more students experience the excitement of designing, building, programming, and competing in robotics!
For TeraBridges, community outreach is about more than showcasing robots. It is about connecting cultures through science, inspiring curiosity, advocating for equitable access to STEM, and building pathways for the next generation of innovators.
Three events, two weekends, 5,000+ community connections—and many more bridges to build!