Balabots Robotic Team 3D Print PPE for local health care workers
We’d like to put a spotlight back on the Balabots, the robotics team of Muir Middle School. During a stay-at-home order that has suspended in-person team activities, the students have been using their engineering skills and team equipment to 3D print much needed PPE mask clips for local medical personnel. We are very proud that such young men and women are finding ways to help their community and give back during this challenging time.
At API, we received notice of their efforts from the Balabots team coach, Muir Middle School teacher Amanda Bala:
“Hi all,
Hope this email finds you well and healthy! Wanted to share with all of you that Nick and Zach Blanchard are using the 3D printer, donated to our FTC team from API, to print out 3D facial mask hooks for the nurses at Genesis! Their mom, Maggie, works there. How awesome is that?
Hope you are doing well and staying safe. I miss you all!”
-Ms. Bala, Balabots Coach
Giving the youth in our community a chance to participate in programs such as the First Tech Challenge (FTC), a mentor-based robotics competition, provides students the skills to help them imagine and build the future and hopefully help others along the way. It is important to give back in life and even more so to give others an opportunity to succeed. An impact like this is even greater than what we hoped to achieve in our sponsorship.
“We are just grateful that we have the technology generously supplied from API to make these simple little clips that can help hospital workers, doctors, therapists, and nurses, in this difficult time.”
– Zach Blanchard, Balabots Team Member
To Ms. Bala, Nick, Zach, and all of the Balabots: We at API, are very proud of you all!
Go Balabots!
