Join the 9-5-5-9 Challenge

Help young people soar through robotics and STEAM.

As we expand our reach, we need our community beside us. Whether you have supported SHIELD Mentor Program before or are joining us for the first time, we invite you to take the 9-5-5-9 Challenge in support of EagleTron, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 9559.

Our robotics program is growing, and so is our opportunity to reach more young people with hands-on robotics, mentoring, leadership development, STEAM experiences, and career exploration.

Community support has already helped our young people accomplish incredible things. During the 2026 season, EagleTron became Event Champions at Elon University, earned the Rising All-Star Award, served as an Alliance Captain at the Wake County District Event, and advanced to the FIRST North Carolina State Championship.

Our team members also took robotics beyond the competition field by sharing their experiences with other young people, participating in community outreach, and helping introduce educators and families to hands-on robotics and STEAM.

How to Participate

9 | Give $9 or more
Choose a challenge gift that is meaningful to you.

5 | Invite 5 people
Share the 9-5-5-9 Challenge with five friends, family members, coworkers, or others in your network.

5 | Share 5 words your younger self needed to hear
Think back to the encouragement, guidance, or opportunity that made a difference in your life. What five words would you tell your younger self today?

9 | Keep it going for 9 days
After you give, spend the next nine days inviting others to participate and helping the 9-5-5-9 Challenge reach new people.

Choose Your Challenge Gift

$9 | Join the Challenge

$28 | Make the 9+5+5+9 Gift

$45 | Make the 9×5 Gift

$55 | Support Team 9559

$95.59 | Make the Signature Team 9559 Gift

Or give any amount that is meaningful to you.

Every contribution helps EagleTron provide young people with access to mentors, robotics equipment, technology, competition experiences, transportation, leadership development, and hands-on STEAM learning.

What 5 Words Did Your Younger Self Need to Hear?

Maybe they were:

You are capable of this.

You belong here right now.

Keep going. Your future matters.

Whatever your five words are, we invite you to give forward so another young person has someone to encourage, lead, and guide them.

Why Your Gift Matters Now

SHIELD Mentor Program is expanding our robotics reach and creating opportunities for more young people to experience mentoring, engineering, coding, leadership, teamwork, and competitive robotics.

That growth is only possible with the support of our community.

Your gift helps us build on what EagleTron has already accomplished while expanding access to robotics, mentoring, leadership, and STEAM opportunities for more young people across our community.

Already Supported SHIELD Before?

Thank you.

Your previous support helped create the foundation we are building upon today.

The 9-5-5-9 Challenge is an opportunity to continue that impact. You can participate with another gift, share the campaign with someone new, invite five people to join you, or do all three.

Together, we can help EagleTron continue Spreading Robotics Everywhere.

Give Back. Give Forward.

BUILD SKILLS. BUILD CONFIDENCE. BUILD ROBOTS.

ENGINEERED TO SOAR.

#9559Challenge | #ForMyYoungerSelf | #SpreadingRoboticsEverywhere