Funding provided by the Maui Economic Development Board Ke Alahele Fund and Friends of Hawaii Robotics will support Maui Prep’s iPueo Robotics pipeline by providing the training and equipment needed to sustain a multilevel robotics program.

NAPILI – Maui Preparatory Academy has been awarded $2,000 from the MEDB Ke Alahele Fund and Friends of Hawaii Robotics to engage students in curricular and co-curricular STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) content through the purposeful and effective use of VEX Robotics.

This program, known as iPueo Robotics, currently reaches over 40 students every year from grades three through 12.

The iPueo Robotics program utilizes the VEX Robotics educational platform to teach STEAM-related topics and disciplines – engineering, structural design, electronics programming – through hands-on and project-based activities integrated with 21st century skills (problem-solving, strategy, collaboration, teamwork and communication).

The purpose of iPueo Robotics is to increase interest in STEAM disciplines through a pipeline of opportunities that begin at the elementary level and move through middle school, high school and potentially into college and the STEAM workforce.

Maui Prep’s iPueo Robotics pipeline lays the groundwork for students who will be more comfortable adopting the inquiry stance, creative problem solving and data-driven collaborative decision-making models that are so crucial as foundations for STEM careers.