Friday, April 4, 2008

Fundraisers in the Park

Alternative Education’s Robotics Team Partners
with Paulie’s for a Pizza Fundraiser



Event: Endorsed by Mayor Cheryl Cox and Deputy Mayor Jerry Rindone, the award winning San Diego FIRST Robotics regional 2008 Rookie All Star Team from Alternative Education and the Denver, Colorado FIRST Robotics regional 2008 Rookie All Star Team from Eastlake High will partner with Paulie’s Pizza Kitchen to raise funds to compete in the Championship in Atlanta, Georgia on April 16-19, 2008. In the spirit of “In it to share it,” these two grateful teams of students will set up their “robot pit”, display a vexbot and pictures of their robot, and invite friends, neighbors, and others to purchase a personal pizza or fresh sandwich at Paulie’s Portable Pizza Kitchen to help them raise funds, knowing that a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to their program.

Background: In 2006-2007, City Councilmember and former Hilltop High School principal, Jerry Rindone, accepted the invitation to enter Hilltop High School in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) ever to be held in San Diego. Hilltop walked away with the 2007 Rookie Team Inspiration Award. Inspired by the principle of “gracious professionalism” espoused by FIRST Robotics, as well as provide alternative education students the opportunity to practice math, science, computer technology, marketing, and engineering principles by building a real robot, Ms. Charlene Lemons, Alternative Education Program Director, joined the FRC program in 2007, offered her unwavering support, and coined the phrase, “We’re going to Atlanta!” Despite the fact that these students were scattered over 7 mini sites in the second largest district in California and met one-on-one with a teacher just one hour each week did not cause them to question their decision. Alternative Education, in turn, recruited Eastlake High to enter the FRC Competition. As the only three schools south of Highway 8 that were involved in the program, Hilltop, Eastlake and Alternative Education formed “Team Sweetwater” and collectively envisioned the dream, “We’re Going to Atlanta.” Through an incredible outpouring of community, district, and business support, funds were raised, pits were designed and working robots were constructed! In fact NASA, Qualcomm, Dynegy, Dixieline, FIRST, AT&T, ESET, Otay Ranch Company, McMillin Realty, BAE Systems, Eastlake Educational Foundation, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Home Depot, Bartels Electric, Denny’s, Toyota Chula Vista, Vons, Best Buy, the Sweetwater Union High School District, Adult Education, the South County Economic Development Council, Wal-Mart, Paulie’s Pizza Kitchen, FOX Channel 6, La Prensa, the San Diego Union Tribune, UCSD, SDSU, VAPA, and numerous individual donors expressed their faith in this unbelievable endeavor and provided support, funds and/or in-kind donations for these determined teams who truly believe and continually declare, “We’re going to Atlanta!”




Date/Time: Thursday, April 3, 2008 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: The Memorial Bowl in Chula Vista
373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Visuals: FIRST Robotics Vexbot on display 10x10x10 Award Winning Booth (video playing, posters, signs, and marketing materials on display)
Students dressed in team shirts / one may be wearing a mascot hat
Paulie’s Portable Pizza Kitchen to provide food (partial amount of proceeds will be donated)
Students may be demonstrating a vexbot, selling raffle tickets, talking about their
program, assisting with food sales at Paulie’s Portable Pizza Kitchen, or collecting
funds. Supporters buying food, talking to students, sitting in the stands.

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