Supports NH Robotics Teams

Manchester, NH (October 23, 2018) – The teams of local students who participate in the FIRST Robotics program and competition rely on funding for the development of their robots and travel to competitions. This year a meaningful part of that funding comes from , which is sponsoring four local high school teams in the FIRST Robotics competition: Manchester, Nashua, Keene and Portsmouth.

“I have a personal connection with one of the FIRST coaches, and when she told me about Manchester Memorial’s need to secure funding to travel to a national competition, was delighted to step to the plate,” said Stephen Lubelczyk, ’s New Hampshire Regional President. “We quickly realized four FIRST Robotics teams – Manchester, Nashua, Keene and Portsmouth – were also markets with locations. So, doing something in each of those communities made perfect sense.”

is sponsoring two high school teams in Manchester, one in Keene and one in Portsmouth. The funds from go directly to each team and the students manage their own budgets throughout the program and competitions.

The FIRST Robotics program in New Hampshire is also piloting the incorporation of ’s Strive® Financial Literacy educational curriculum as part of the FIRST Robotics workshops with more than 100 local students at FIRST headquarters in Manchester.

“Success in a STEM career relies on so much more than technical expertise. Companies look for team members with well-rounded intelligence and the soft skills that go along with it,” said Kristi Scarpone, FIRST Tech Challenge Mentor. “We know the earlier you learn soft skills, the easier your professional and adult life will be on many levels. And this opportunity was perfect because our goal is for our students to really connect with their sponsors any way that they can, so that the sponsors return year after year.”

Lubelczyk and ’s local Business Development Officer Marilyn Charbonneau taught the first Strive Financial Literacy session during a workshop on Saturday, September 29, and FIRST is looking for opportunities to integrate additional Strive programming throughout the year.

“Robotics and tech are at the core of NH’s commercial future and youth financial literacy is equally critical,” Lubelczyk said.

NBT’s Strive program provides in-classroom, in-branch and online financial education to help youth and young adults establish a positive relationship with money, grow their money skills, and navigate personal finance as their financial needs mature. ’s Strive program works with local teachers to help today’s youth grow into financially responsible, independent adults. Since launching the program in 2012, the bank has conducted more than 1,000 presentations to school districts and community groups.

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