Staking Technician Greg Young paid forward $500 to the Mauldin High School robotics team.
During the past 20 years, the team – named Flash 1319 – has won 6 regional competitions as well as finishing in third place at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) world championship.
FIRST is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization, and according to firstinspires.org, is the world’s leading youth robotics community.
According to a statement from Flash 1319, “The aim of the FIRST Robotics Competition is to help young people discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology and math (STEM).”
Greg says the program definitely influenced his son, Jake.
“Jake participated in robotics teams from middle school through high school, and later on refereed matches at competitions between schools. It pushed him to go into the engineering field as a career,” said Greg.
To learn more, visit firstinspires.org, and follow the Mauldin High team on Facebook at facebook.com/FRCFlash1319.
The Pay It Forward program began in 2015. Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.