Another West Seattleite seeking your vote: Robotics for all (kids)!

(WSB photo from January 2009)
We reported twice last year on the Gatewood Elementary robotics club, coached by volunteer adviser Erik Christensen. He’s got an even bigger dream now, for students all over West Seattle, so he’s entered Pepsi’s dream-funding “Refresh Everything” contest, asking for your vote. We asked about the pitch he’d make for your vote, and here’s what he wrote back:

I have a chance to make an educational change here in West Seattle.

I am a five-year volunteer at Gatewood Elementary. For the last three years I have run a robotics club that is VERY popular. This year I have expanded into Denny Middle school and want to do more. The schools I have spoken to want me to do more.

Pepsi is offering grants every month…I have asked for $250,000. If I get the grant I can install a robotics club in all of the schools in West Seattle.

I could even work to have robotics incorporated into the class, which really increases class interest and promotes the sciences.

Cast your vote at refresheverything.com (type in gatewood in the search box if you have trouble finding the page) and vote for my idea. [Direct link here]

Each elementary school and middle school could have two clubs and incorporate 16 students…possibly more.

(3 WSB links he included) West Seattle students at FIRST Robotics
Gatewood’s first team
One of the many field trips for the students

I could write a long and poetic piece about how it would be good for the kids…etc…etc. I choose to just state it in a simple way.

Thats all there is! Help me get this grant and help me give good opportunities to the students of West Seattle. Vote daily, vote frequently, vote often…please vote!

Here again is the direct link. This round of voting ends June 30th.

6 Replies to "Another West Seattleite seeking your vote: Robotics for all (kids)!"

  • Thomas June 8, 2010 (7:06 pm)

    FIRST is awesome! You’ve got my vote.

    EDIT: Here’s a direct link to vote for this idea:

    http://www.refresheverything.com/search/?q=gatewood#0|0|false|false|false|

  • Jodi June 8, 2010 (8:50 pm)

    Erik is awesome. My daughter has been on his robotics team at Gatewood for two years now and she is very much looking forward to continuing the experience at Denny. Please cast your vote!!!

  • sewfiona June 8, 2010 (9:35 pm)

    What do you have to do to be able to use all 10 votes on a project in one day? Do you have to vote on 10 different projects?
    What an awesome idea, Schmitz Park is behind you!!

  • Laurie June 9, 2010 (8:19 am)

    Alki would love to have such a program at our school. How will the schools be picked for the program?

  • Brenda June 9, 2010 (11:42 am)

    My son is in the Denny program and absolutely loves it. Plus it’s helped his math and reasoning skills…

  • westseattledood June 9, 2010 (11:51 am)

    I just voted. Have you sent the link out into the Tweeterverse? Maybe?

    This is such a cool effort! I wish you success!

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