Memorial fund honors late Summit HS robotics coach

Will provide aid to high school robotics programs around region

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Brooks Resources, along with the Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools and the Van Valkenburg family, announced Monday that a memorial fund has been established to honor Charlotte Van Valkenburg, who passed away in a September car accident. 

The Charlotte Van Valkenburg Memorial Robotics Fund will provide financial assistance to high school robotics teams/clubs/programs throughout Central Oregon.

As the head coach of the Summit High School Robotics Team, Chaos Theory, Charlotte motivated, inspired and supported many young minds, taking them to the FIRST World Robotics Championships the last three years. She pushed the program to new heights, growing participation and diversity in the club and supported other robotics programs throughout Central Oregon. For her dedication and enthusiasm, she received the Pacific Northwest Robotics Coach of the Year award earlier this year. 

“One of Charlotte’s passions was helping kids achieve their goals through robotics challenges and competitions,” says her husband, Dale Van Valkenburg, Director of Planning & Development for Brooks Resources. “Robotics teams throughout the region face financial barriers, which was one of the issues Charlotte was passionate about solving. She would be so proud and honored to see this fund supporting programs that teaches students so many vital, lifelong skills.”

As a founding sponsor, Brooks Resources has contributed $10,000 to establish the fund. The fund will be managed by the Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools and funding requests will be made via an application process with decisions made by a funding committee established by the family.

If you are interested in donating to help grow and sustain the fund, visit the Education Foundation’s website and select the Charlotte Van Valkenburg Memorial Fund in the drop-down Fund menu. https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/SchoolFoundationInc_1/efonlinedonation.html

Central Oregon high school robotics teams and programs are invited to apply for funding starting in January. For more information on the fund, contact Michelle Johnson, Executive Director, Education Foundation at (541) 355-5660 or education.foundation@bend.k12.or.us.