Hopkins High School Robotics Team "Technocrats"
Feb 05, 2019
Kate DeVries Smith
Hopkins High School Robotics Team "Technocrats"

Kate DeVries Smith is a serving as a business mentor for the robotics team this year for the first time. Kate became involved with the team because her son Erik, a sophomore at Hopkins High School, is in his second year on the programming team. Each FIRST Robotics team is organized into a business team, a programming team, an electrical team, and a mechanical team, and strives to be similar in structure to an engineering firm. Kate is a patent attorney by day, loves learning about technology, and loves writing. This is a good fit with the business team duties of communicating with other teams, preparing FIRST award applications, fundraising, and community outreach. Kate has been especially impressed with the student-driven nature of the fundraising and other team activities on the robotics team.

About FIRST®: Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $50 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge for Grades 12; FIRST® LEGO® League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. for Grades K-4. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org