Students Gather to Drive Robots and Make Career Connections

The annual East Metro Collaborative Competition (EMCC) will take place at Woodbury High School on Saturday, October 26, from 9-5. EMCC is a scrimmage event in which dozens of area high schools show off and compete their robots. The event is hosted by Math and Science Academy, East Ridge High School, Woodbury High School, and Park High School with 28 other area high schools registered to compete. The event will also feature a networking- pipeline event called Making Connections, which will take place from 10-2 alongside the robotics competition. Making Connections is an opportunity for local businesses, schools, and organizations to make meaningful connections with students regarding current programs and future-state career exploration. Van Meter is the 2024 EMCC sponsor.

Sponsor:
Van Meter
Website: https://www.vanmeterinc.com/
More about the sponsor:
Van Meter Inc. is an electrical and automation supply distributor serving contractors and industrial manufacturers with over 25 locations across the Midwest, including Cottage Grove, MN. Van Meter’s robotics and smart machine solutions create lasting value for its manufacturing customers to help them power and feed the world, so this sponsorship is an investment into the future of the industry.

Van Meter employee-owner, Conner Sager, said, “We are sponsoring because we’re passionate about growing the industry and encouraging students to learn more about robotics and the ways it impacts our world.”

Other Making Connections participants such as Minnesota PolyTech, Marathon Petroleum of St. Paul Park, League of Women Voters, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry will join Van Meter and the 500+ students from 32 area high schools for a day of robots, fun, career exploration, and community connections. This is an outreach event and all are invited to join! Interested schools and businesses should contact Leigh Ann Ahmad leighahmad@gmail.com for more information.