Happy National Robotics Week! Why We Love and Support Robotics

UMC has supported robotics programs over the past five years because we believe it is important for the future of our business and because these programs enhance the lives of students in our community. Teaching robotics to students throughout their schooling can increase their ability to be creative and innovative thinkers and more productive members of society.

This year, UMC again sponsored the VEX State Robotics Competition on February 2 and 3 in St. Cloud. Sixty high school, forty middle school, and fifty elementary school teams competed in this year’s competition.

UMC also sponsored several FIRST Robotics teams including Big Lake, Buffalo, Cambridge/Isanti, Monticello, St. Michael, and Rocori. We focus on surrounding communities as well as those teams our employees’ children are part of.  As part of our sponsorship, we ask teams to present at UMC to show us how they’ll use the money we contribute. Teams typically hold a demonstration of their robot for us and report back on how they placed and what they learned during the season.

Robotics programs are an exciting and innovative way to get kids excited about STEM, automation, and manufacturing. Through our involvement, UMC is supporting this important work, while also introducing the next generation to precision manufacturing.