Sylvania STEM Center

Our Story

Vision Statement
It is our mission at the Sylvania STEM Center to inspire young people to become science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting STEM-based activities both in and out of the classroom.

Program Summary
Sylvan Robotics/Sylvania STEM Center started nine years ago from an idea to create a robotics program for one elementary. We found out about FIRST and created two teams. Those two teams have grown to ten FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams and three Jr. FLL teams. In 2013 we applied for and received 501-C3 status to better provide for our teams.
Today four of our teams are housed together in donated office space. The rest are scattered in individual team’s coach’s basements or garages.

We now have most of the teams housed at the Sylvania STEM Center and had as many as 45 FIRST teams competing in their respective season.

Over the years we have received sponsorship from the following:
Promedica Health Systems, University of Toledo, Sylvan Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, Martha Jennings Foundation, Dana, Andersons, Cauffiel Corporation, Sterling Labs
With our program expanding the need for lasting corporate sponsorship relationships has become apparent. The majority of our funding comes from grants, however, grants are very specific and usually do not allow for infrastructure or operating capital.


Community Involvement

Sylvania STEM Center supports teams through programming workshops, summer camps, scrimmages and helps through the season.
We have a partnership with Imagination Station, a local science center in which we showcase our STEM programs and outreach. This allows for more visibility to the FIRST programs and allows the teams to perfect and/or improve their competition robots.