As part of Carrier’s 2030 ESG community goal to invest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs, Carrier is helping to develop the next generation of STEM leaders by providing grants to employee-led For Inspiration and Recognition Science and Technology (FIRST®) robotics teams.

 

FIRST is a global robotics community that provides mentor-based, research and robotics programs for grades pre-K-12 to encourage students to develop a passion for, and potentially pursue, careers in a STEM-related field.

 

 

Jason DesMarais, a Global Suppression & Controls Test Engineer at Carrier, is in his 10th year of mentoring FIRST Robotics Team 1100 from Algonquin Regional High School in Massachusetts. As a former student at the high school and member of Team 1100 himself, DesMarais has a special place in his heart for inspiring like-minded youth on future career possibilities in STEM. This year alone, DesMarais has participated in build sessions with the students four days a week, for approximately four hours each day, as well as several tournaments – logging 360 hours in just over four months.

 

“When I was a student, the mentors on the team helped get me excited about engineering and strengthened my self-confidence to create things on my own,” DesMarais said. “I mentor today because seeing students go through the same transformation that I did is one of the biggest joys.”