Intentional Innovation Foundation (IIF) transforms students and our community into evangelists for science and technology by providing them life-changing opportunities to experience science and math as a thrilling, challenging competition and by operating and sponsoring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education activities on the Virginia Peninsula. Our specific missions:
1. We mentor and support the ongoing operations of Triple Helix, the Menchville High School Robotics Team in Newport News, VA.
2. We are the presenting sponsor of the Rumble in the Roads, an annual community robotics tournament.
3. We are contributing sponsors for several local youth robotics teams.

IIF recognizes that developing the future engineering workforce requires a culture shift that makes engineering "cool" again. In meeting that goal, Triple Helix Robotics competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) against an international field of 91k+ students on 3,600+ teams. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. Triple Helix Robotics students work with mentors and sponsoring companies to design, construct, program, and test a robot during an intense season. The competition closely simulates a professional engineering experience that includes technical analysis, acquisition and application of engineering knowledge, fabrication, systems engineering and integration, time management, resource allotment, teamwork, and many other life skills that combine to help focus students on technology as a possible career choice.

3-ton arbor press and pedestal for Triple Helix

Intentional Innovation Foundation (IIF) is a contributing sponsor to the Hines Middle School FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, as well as the FLL teams at Lee Hall Elementary and Riverside Elementary; IIF provides funds to enable the purchase of equipment and registration for competition. In addition, IIF has recently become fiscal agent for FTC Team 6027, a York County community FTC team which recently qualified for the prestigious FTC East Super-Regional in Scranton PA.

Last year, IIF was helpful in providing the resources necessary for Warwick River Christian School to found a Lego robotics program. This spring, the modest amount of goodwill we supplied returned in spades. During the hectic time at the start of “build season,” WRCS graciously provided Triple Helix with a meeting space while Newport News Public Schools was unable to open the schools due to the inclement weather. We continue to look out for way to thank WRCS for this opportunity, grow this collaborative partnership, and extend its reach to make both our programs better.

Triple Helix maintains a strong relationship with local FRC team 122, the NASA Knights, our sister NASA Langley Research Center “house team.” Triple Helix will compete with and against the NASA Knights in at least two upcoming events this spring. Last fall, IIF sponsored 122’s participation in the Rumble in the Roads, our fall offseason tournament cohosted with local FRC teams 1610 and 5957. Team leader Jennifier Clarke stated: “Jennifer Clarke: Thank you so much for your support of Team 122 as the team rebuilds. Someone mentioned to me at the event that they heard the team had "imploded" - I only wish it was that dramatic! We appreciate Triple Helix allowing us to use the back-up robot for the Rumble in the Roads. It was wonderful to have your team next door in case the pit crew needed anything. The students had a fantastic time. They enjoyed learning their roles as members of an FRC team. For most of them, it was their first experience with FIRST. I was thrilled that it was such a positive experience. ”

In August 2017 Triple Helix donated robotics equipment to a newly-forming robotics club and makerspace at Woodside High School. Lead teacher Deborah McDonough stated “I wanted to express our sincerest thanks for allowing us to visit your club and for the wonderful donation of robotics equipment… I think it would be wonderful for our students to meet others who have been so successful in the competition arena… I am so tickled to see that the competition robotics community is such a welcoming one! Our students are very anxious to get started and everything you have done to help us get off the ground is so appreciated!”

Triple Helix maintains a strong relationship with these Peninsula organizations as we continue to spread a passion for STEM learning throughout our community:
-- Junior Woman’s Club of Hilton Village (students and parents support the club’s annual dinner theater event by serving as waiting staff)
-- Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering (CHROME) club at FIRST Baptist Church Denbigh (the team conducts an annual demo for the K-8th grade students)
-- Peninsula Jaycees (the team conducts an annual demo for the 6-8th grade girls)
-- AFCEA Tidewater (the team participates in the annual social and networking event at Langley AFB)
-- Virginia Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament (the team provides setup and teardown volunteers)

Requested grant funds will enable Triple Helix to continue to enter award-winning robots into the FIRST Robotics Competition, and will be used to purchase a desired piece of fabrication equipment: a Dake model 1-1/2 B 3-ton ratcheting arbor press (or equivalent) and the matching pedestal base. An arbor press is a simple lever-operated shop tool meant for pressing linearly on parts and tools. A common tool used in an arbor press is a broach, which has cutting edges that change the shape of a round hole into another shape, like a square, a hexagon, or a splined shape. Currently, to broach a hexagon shape into a part, Triple Helix students must use a hydraulic press which is bulky and very slow to use, requiring multiple setups and often resulting in poor accuracy. The ratcheting 3-ton arbor press will enable very quick broaching in a single setup, better reflecting the rapid pace of Triple Helix robot construction techniques. Triple Helix has found the FIRST Robotics Competition to be an effective means of engaging our students in STEM and graduating students who are well prepared to be strong contributors to the emerging Hampton Roads knowledge economy. With a grant to augment the capabilities of our workshop, these funds will offset a significant portion of the team’s operating costs and will extend our ability to make lasting positive contributions to the greater youth STEM community on the Virginia Peninsula through our collaborative outreach and engagement efforts.

Triple Helix is an award-winning competitor in the FIRST Robotics Competition, an effective mentor-based program and a cultural movement in which young people discover and develop a passion for STEM. Triple Helix continues to benefit the Virginia Peninsula by graduating excellent members of a diverse new community of scientists, engineers, and technologists. Triple Helix has been recognized for our leadership in successfully encouraging young women to pursue higher levels of education and STEM careers by increasing the participation of female students, encouraging their role in leadership positions, and providing opportunities to become engaged in the engineering design process. Menchville HS principal Bobby Surry often cites Triple Helix as the school’s most powerful “magnet” for attracting high performing students from around the school district and providing avenues for them to succeed. 92% of Triple Helix students pursue college educations, with 80% pursuing STEM-related careers. Graduating seniors have reported that their Triple Helix Robotics experiences award them “a glimpse into the type of job I want to have professionally, a more complete understanding of project management, friendships that I will never forget, and leadership skills to take into college and the workplace.” Students leave the team with “valuable relationships with mentors who work in industry” and “the confidence to pursue an engineering degree!”

Triple Helix team operations are primarily managed by a volunteer head coach with assistance from student leaders and adult mentors. Triple Helix student leadership roles, as well as the eligibility requirements to hold these positions, are described in our team handbook. Our three elected roles have the greatest responsibilities and are filled by students who are examples of leadership and commitment-- these students are consistently engaged in team activities and have made significant contributions to the team's outreach and recruitment efforts.