DIAM associates share their enthusiasm for technology with high school students

"A labor of love." Ask any of the DENSO International America (DIAM) associates why they sacrifice blood, sweat, tears and time - a lot of time - to work on the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) DENSO/Mumford High School team, and that's the reason they'll give you. It's a labor of love.

Celebrating learning

"It is a lot of work," acknowledged Chris Arms, staff engineer, Body Component Systems I."But the payback makes the hard work worthwhile."

That payback - the knowledge that you're helping the community, positively impacting students' lives, and creating a pipeline for engineering technology - also comes in some unanticipated forms. Such as a positive impact on day - to - day work.

"There is no better way to learn efficiency improvements than when trying to build, design and fabricate a robot in six weeks," said Rob Cardno, senior staff engineer, Engine Management Systems IV."There's a tremendous amount of pressure and a lot of commitment that's required. There were long hours, but when it was done, I found I had learned an incredible amount in a short period of time. And that helps me do my job better."

The FIRST robotics competition pairs high school students with professionals to solve an engineering design problem. Each team has six weeks to transform a pile of parts and a problem statement into an operating robot capable of competing against teams of other students, professionals and teachers.

Because it exposes so many students to engineering and technology, the FIRST competition is a critical element in strengthening worldwide industry.

"With FIRST we can grow a legion of technical specialists and engineers who will make American and global industry more powerful," said Cardno."We could have a real technology boom in the next 10 years because of the students who participate in FIRST."

The DENSO difference

There is no question that FIRST benefits the DIAM associates who participate. But FIRST also benefits DENSO. Providing an opportunity for companies like DENSO to make themselves known to more than 15,000 potential engineers, helps build a recruiting market for the future.

"FIRST gives us an opportunity to increase our name recognition, increase our technology and recruit engineers from all over the country," explained Carl Vaughn, manager, Off - Highway/Heavy Duty Sales, DIAM. "We can showcase the 'DENSO Way' in terms of engineering and technology. Our can - do/will - do attitude means that whatever needs to get done, will get done as a team. That's the 'DENSO Way.'"

And Val Revere, Mumford mathematics teacher in charge of the FIRST students, said they notice the difference.

"At a lot of companies, the engineers build the robots without the students," she said. "Once it's built, the students learn how to operate it. At DENSO, our kids actually get to learn and be as involved as they choose in the actual building of the robot.The engineers work side - by - side with the students, and explain what, why and how to build the robot.That's why the students love DENSO and love being part of this team."

The competition

While the DENSO/Mumford robot did phenomenally well in the regional competition in March, finishing third out of 62 teams, mechanical challenges proved too much to overcome in the national competition in Orlando, Fla., in April.The DENSO/Mumford robot finished in 61st place in its division, but had the honor of being invited to participate in the championship matches with one of the final eight robotics teams. For only the third year in competition, that was more than the team anticipated.

"Win or lose in competition, the kids on these teams are special and are going to impact the future," concluded Vaughn."They are the people who will find a cure for cancer or solutions to environmental problems.They just need to be shown that there is a big world out there, and it's theirs to conquer."

Signs of success

As Mumford mathematics teacher and FIRST team mentor, Val Revere sees first - hand the impression DIAM makes on the student members of the DENSO/Mumford FIRST team.

"We see that FIRST is a choice not a chore for DENSO," she said."You are not doing this because you have to. DIAM associates really love being involved with FIRST, not only because it tests their own skills, but also to see the enthusiasm reflected in the students.They want these students to be the best, not just in FIRST competitions, but in the rest of their lives."

And it's working. Here are three Mumford High School students and members of the DENSO/Mumford FIRST team that we know we'll hear more from in the future.

LaKenya Davis: A member of the initial FIRST team in 2000, Davis received a full scholarship to the University of Michigan where she is studying engineering. She recently applied for a co - op position at DIAM and would like to work for DENSO when she graduates from college.

Micah Kailimai: Before joining the FIRST team, Kailimai received mainly "Ds" and "Es" on his report card. On one of his first visits to DIAM, he heard about the technology opportunities available at companies like DENSO and how engineers can impact the future, and it turned him around. He now earns "As" and "Bs" and plans to study computer - aided design at Oakland Community College in Rochester, Mich.

And that's not all. Kailimai recently earned a second place award at the Metropolitan Science Fair in Detroit, Mich., where he also took home a medal and certificate from the Air Force.

Samuel Umachi: Only a junior at Mumford High School, Umachi already has been awarded a scholarship to study at University of Detroit Mercy, a private college in Detroit, Mich. He was nominated for this scholarship by Revere.