Networking with Nemesis
What do the words robotics, high-school, and S.T.E.A.M. all have in common? Business and marketing. To suggest such a similarity might leave one asking questions. Nemesis’ 6th annual Sponsor Networking Night provided the answers.
What do high-school students who dedicate their social lives to the development of science and technology gain from a night spent greeting people, giving presentations, and answering questions? The answer is everything. As a Robotics team that also doubles as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Nemesis relies almost entirely on donations from sponsors to support the team and its mission. Sponsor Networking Night provides the proof that these contributions are impactful; the evening is critical for the strong, symbiotic relationships Nemesis maintains with their sponsors.
The night began as Nemesis was reminded of the impact they create in their community. Mayor Dave Fried proposed an enticing offer for Nemesis to work with the township on the development of “The Leafy Green Machine”, a hydroponics farm aimed at helping Robbinsville develop agricultural self-sustainability. As the attendees arrived, they were split into groups for three equally impressive performances. Following a tour of the Robbinsville High School Tech Lab, build executives Mariko McMurtry and Dahany Choi gave a detailed briefing of this year’s FIRST Game Challenge. Audience members gained acute insight into the process Nemesis employed to build their 2018 robot, and had all their technical questions answered.
Across the hall, in the Student Activity Center, Marketing Executives Nick Anderson and Likhitha Patlolla, alongside Chief Financial Officer Jarelle Boac, presented “Our Year In Review”, a recap of the highly successful Nemesis 2016-2017 season. If there was any reason to doubt Nemesis’ impact, it was put to rest, as these three seasoned presenters delved into the notable achievements of Nemesis; their victory at the Indiana Robotics Invitational, aid in the founding of Robbinsville’s FIRST Technical Challenge team, Nemesis Prime 14020, and alumna Jolia Thadal’s S.T.E.A.M. outreach program in Haiti.
Finally, sponsors could find themselves in the midst of robotics action as they witnessed Nemesis’ 2017 award winning robot, Eris, in action. Some sponsors had the opportunity to drive the robot. Along with Eris, the walking, talking, dancing and golf-playing, humanoid Nao robot showed off its impressive skills. With all of these activities, light refreshments, and plenty of conversation, Nemesis could call the 2018 Sponsor Networking Night a success.
Nemesis would like to give a special thanks to: Robbinsville High School, NAVAIR, DoDSTEM, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label Incorporated, Picatinny STEM, Lockheed Martin, Robbinsville Education Association, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Investors Bank, Robbinsville Education Foundation Incorporated, Sharbell Development Corporation, CCC, Skylink Technology Incorporation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, Gilbane Building Company, Triangle Copy, Coldwell Banker, DesignTree, as well as all the family, friends and past sponsors of Nemesis 2590.
