Speed
Power
And
Maneuverability
Our S.P.A.M. Story
27 Years of STEM Excellence
Team Origins: Our Roots in Martin County
Founded in 1997 by Pratt & Whitney engineers and teachers from Martin County and South Fork High Schools, FRC 180 S.P.A.M. Robotics brought FIRST Robotics to our rural community of ~158,000 residents. Originally an acronym for South Fork, Pratt & Whitney, and Martin County, S.P.A.M. now stands for Speed, Power, and Maneuverability, reflecting our robot-building ethos. From a small garage, we’ve grown into a 6,500 sq ft S.P.A.M. Robotics STEM Center at 1939 SE Federal Hwy, relocated in December 2023 through a partnership with the Martin County School District. As a 501(c)(3), we unite students from five public high schools, private schools, and homeschoolers, doubling female participation and fostering inclusivity.
Empowering Future STEM Leaders
Our mission is to inspire high school students to become science, technology, and engineering leaders through a mentor-based program where we design, fabricate, build, program, and test robots for the FIRST Robotics Competition, equipping them with essential workplace skills. Over the last 3 years, 100% of S.P.A.M. alumni have pursued higher education, many securing STEM careers at NASA, Disney, and Google. We’ve awarded $15,000 in scholarships since 2020, and 12 alumni now mentor FIRST teams, with 11 mentoring S.P.A.M. Students gain technical, communication, and leadership skills while embracing FIRST’s core values like Gracious Professionalism—competing fiercely yet supporting others.
A Hub for Community Impact
S.P.A.M. ensures STEM access for all Martin County students, hosting Florida’s largest LEGO Robotics camps (145 kids in 3 years) and logging 2,000+ student outreach hours this season through 100+ demos at events like the Stuart Airshow, Martin County Fair, and Christmas Parade. Our new facility hosts FTC, FLL, and FLL Explore events for 34 teams and is proposed as a 2025 field trip destination for 2nd-8th graders. We’ve mentored 11 FLL teams in local schools, assisted 32 FIRST teams, and shared our S.P.A.Malytics scouting system (1,077 clicks on ChiefDelphi), raising the competitive floor for others.
Team Structure and Values
Led by a board of adults and students, S.P.A.M. operates with sub-teams in robot design, programming, outreach, and more, ensuring “A Place for Everyone.” Our leadership structure pairs each adult role with a student counterpart, fostering collaboration and growth:
Our 77% student volunteer rate at FIRST events, 5 Dean’s List Finalists, and 1 Championship Dean’s List Winner highlight our role as FIRST role models. With 15 mentors boasting over 5 years of experience, we’ve raised $120,000 this year, funding our new facility and a full-size FRC field open to teams like FRC 3932 Dirty Mechanics.
Be Part of Our Legacy
From our 1998 debut at the Kennedy Space Center to 2024 wins in South Florida and Tallahassee, S.P.A.M. continues to shape STEM futures. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, or email frcteam180@gmail.com to mentor, sponsor, or learn more!