Henkel Donates $7K to Troy High Hammerheads Robotics Team

After carefully guiding a remote-controlled basketball-launching robot into place just inside the main entrance of , a small group of students – all members of the Troy High School Hammerheads Robotics Team – flank the machinery on either side.

The students smile as a comically large laminated check is carried in by Henkel Corporation Senior Vice President Chuck Evans, who has shown up to present the team with a generous $7,000 donation.

"It's cool to be smart," Evans tells the students, who listen intently as he tells stories of astronauts and space programs.

Henkel's donation – along with donations from other sponsors, including GM and Siemens – will be used to fund the robotics program for the next year.

"(The money) is everything. We probably go through about $22,000 a year," Program Director Al Merian said. "The money goes to travel, goes to the building of the robot, and it goes to any other functions we do as outreach."

"Robots are cool, and it's fun playing with the technology," Hammerheads team member Liza Burakova said. "We learn very useful business skills. This money will help a lot in building this robot because it's a very expensive endeavor."

Teammate Arjun Namineni agreed, saying, "It's not only building the robot, it's getting other kids involved in this program. It means a lot – $7,000 goes a long way for what we're doing."

Through Henkel’s MIT (Making an Impact on Tomorrow) Initiative, which encourages employees to apply for donations in support of social engagement activities, Henkel employee and Hammerheads volunteer Kevin Woock was able to secure the donation.

"Henkel is committed to giving back to the community," Evans said. "We know that tomorrow's future scientists ... are going to come out of Troy High School, right here, and so we're committed to giving back and promoting the sciences."