First Tech Challenge (usfirst.org) is a robotics program designed to expose teenagers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through challenging robotic games that requires them to design, prototype, build, test, and program autonomous and driver-operated robots to perform a series of tasks. The program encourages young students to engage in activities that foster well-rounded life capabilities and promote teamwork, creativity, hard work and “gracious-professionalism”.
Polar Vortex Robotics team (9132) started in September 2014 as six eighth graders from Eagan, Lakeville North and Rosemont, Minnesota in the basement of Darren and Nichole Hester’s home. In four months, they built a competition robot, created a team name and logo and started their engineering notebook to document their development journey. The team focuses on building a robust robot, drafting an engineering notebook (documents design ideas, programming details, pictures of their CAD), constructing sensors, outreach with the engineering community and branding with a team site at polarvortex9132.com. Darren Hester says, “The FTC motto, ‘It’s the hardest fun you’ll ever have’, has really resonated with the students.”
The team at Travel Tags, Inc. offer a variety of 1:1 mentorship opportunities, from explanation of lenticular, to development of a business card that applied this science, to individual financial support. The team did a group presentation prior to the Minnesota FTC Stratasys State Championship on February 21st where Polar Vortex placed seventh. Minnesota has 108 registered teams competing in the 2014/15 season, with the top six continuing to the FTC North Super Regional contest from March 26-28th in Des Moines, Iowa. The team has been invited to help organize the Regional Championships and is working to attend the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri in April. This team is currently raising funds via gofundme (gofundme.com/polarvortex9132), selling candy and bagging groceries to support these events.
We are pleased to announce that Joe Brinkman, Mechanical Engineer at Travel Tags and Benjamin Ducket, Production Manager at Western Graphics & Data are both recipients of the 2014 Glen Taylor and Deb Taylor Award. Nominated by their business leader, these employees have gone above and beyond to contribute exceptional value to their organizations.
“Each year we hear of employees across our family of companies who go above and beyond our expectations – and these individuals demonstrate initiative that improves our ability to serve customers, produce product, or achieve our goals,” shared Deb Taylor. “It is in recognition of those individuals’ efforts we have decided to establish these awards."
Congratulations to all recipients within the Taylor family of companies!
Gift card spending has grown from $40 billion in 2003 to over $100 billion in 2014, says the Mercator Advisory Group. According to the National Retail Federation’s Monthly Consumer Survey, they have topped the list of most requested gifts for the last eight years. In a newly published whitepaper, Blackhawk Network breaks down the process of gift giving and reveals why gift cards continue to experience such rapid growth. What motivates people to buy them and so eagerly want to receive them?
THE GROWTH OF GIFT CARDS
One of the most popular forms of prepaid products – gift cards – debuted in the 1990s and have enjoyed significant growth over the last decade. As one of the most requested gifts, their growth is expected to continue over the next several years. (see below: Gift Card Projected Growth 2003-2017). Gift cards come in two forms: open-loop gift cards, which carry the brand of a major payment system like Visa, MasterCard or American Express, and closed-loop cards, which are redeemable only at specific retailers.
Research on what makes gift cards so popular is lacking, although according to global prepaid network, Blackhawk Network, there are many studies that detail the specifics of the number, type, occasion and purchase locations related to gift card purchase.
But understanding why people give gift cards can help merchants, program managers and issuers tailor marketing messages and programs to increase sales. Blackhawk first conducted a study in 2008 to investigate shoppers’ motivations for gift card purchases in which consumers were clustered into groups based on their psychological motivations toward gift cards. This study was recently updated to reflect the changes since 2008 and have some surprising findings.
Blackhawk’s survey sample included 3,050 gift card buyers in the U.S., and of the total respondents, 63 percent had purchased at least one gift card in the last year. Respondents were asked about their gift card buying habits, as well as overall attitudes about shopping, online activity, and gift giving and gift cards.
Source: PYMNTS.com, read entire article here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com
© 2025, Travel Tags Inc.
All Rights Reserved.