ESCS article as seen  in EE Times Aug, 28 2006

There are currently 1.3 million engineering technology jobs available in the United States without trained people to fill them. And there is a tremendous interest in engineering brewing in your local schools. A multinational nonprofit organization called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has made science, math, engineering and technology as cool for kids as sports are today.

FIRST was founded on partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and government. Many local businesses and Fortune 500 companies provide funding and volunteers to build robots that compete in local and national competitions. Building a winning robot is not the big payoff.

The key to FIRST's success is the work of more than 25,000 volunteer mentors, professional engineers, teachers and other adults working with students across the country. Through these volunteers, FIRST programs engaged over 70,000 young people last year.

At Electronic Supply Chain Solutions in Clearwater, Fla., we partner with Honeywell staff and others to help mentor and promote our future engineers at East Lake High School. The ELHS robot is called Krunch 79. Team 79 has learned that when using positive attitudes, the latest technology, the will to influence the community and committing acts of gracious professionalism on and off the playing field, the results can be immeasurable. Team 79 and its nonprofit organization, First Robotics Boosters, have created summer workshop programs for younger children and Girls Inc., an engineering program just for girls.

Team 79 creates several FIRST Lego League teams each year for younger students age 9 to 14, along with hosting tournaments at their school. After receiving national recognition for building a robotic arm for a family on the hit show Extreme Home Makeover, Team 79 placed first in the Florida regionals.

This year, ELHS introduces its Engineering Academy Program. Students can receive engineering college credits while in high school. Ask anyone from Team 79 what time it is and the answer is always, "It's Krunch time!"

At ESCS we try not only to promote engineering at our local schools, but also to prompt our engineering customers and suppliers to get involved in some way. By linking our Web site, www.electronicsupplychainsolutions.com, Web site to both www.usfirst.org and www.krunch79.com, we can lead engineers to where all the excitement is. Then we ask them to use the FIRST map of the USA to drill down to their state or town and see what great companies or schools are nearby. We then ask them to get involved.

With 1.3 million U.S. engineering job openings and India and China seeking world dominance, everyone can invest something in our local children's future: Time, money, love and wisdom will foster a transformation.

It's Krunch time!
Matthew Heaphy, President, Electronic Supply Chain Solutions
Clearwater, Fla.