Spartronics 4915, Bainbridge Island’s student-led robotics team, requests $35,000 to purchase a CNC milling machine that will transform STEM education for over 500 Bainbridge Island students annually.

 

Bainbridge Island has no publicly-accessible precision manufacturing equipment for students. A CNC milling machine in the BHS metal shop will serve multiple populations:

  • 40+ Spartronics robotics team members who currently outsource manufacturing for precision parts;

  • 200+ Career and Technical Education students in shop classes, including those seeking post-high school job opportunities;

  • Indirectly to BI middle- and grade school students through planned summer robotics camps and outreach programs.

This equipment fills a critical gap. BARN lacks metal-cutting capability, and the wood shop’s mill cannot safely cut metal due to fire risk. A CNC mill will enable all students, regardless of economic background, to master the full spectrum of modern manufacturing.

 

This grant will spur CTE program enrollment at BHS, permit Spartronics to expand its development of STEM programs on the island through team sponsorship and camps, and will be used hundreds of hours per year in the team’s pursuit of qualifying for the FIRST Robotics World Championships.

 

This project embodies Rotary’s mission of advancing understanding through education while promoting equity. We invite Rotary members to witness the transformation themselves – whether at our annual open house, at our next camp for youth at KiDiMu, or one of our community events at local businesses such as T&C and ACE Hardware.

 

Spartronics, through its partnership with Bainbridge Schools Foundation, and its decade-plus record of sponsorship between local and corporate business sponsors, commits to 100% of ongoing maintenance and supplies. The CNC’s 15+ year lifespan ensures thousands of students will benefit from Rotary’s investment, supplementing the $50K+ that our students raise each year. 

 

The requested $35,000 covers the CNC mill, safety enclosure, and initial tooling. Spartronics has committed $35,000 in matching funds for ongoing support, which will be raised through a 2025 campaign.

 

In 2016, Rotary’s generous support funded a trailer for Spartronics. This trailer has been used for competitions and events for nearly a decade, with Spartronics funding all maintenance. Nearly a decade later, we would appreciate Rotary’s support once more.