This guest post was written by Samantha Miller on behalf of the Entrepreneurship at ASU program.

Although you may not recognize the name, Faridodin “Fredi” Lajvardi, a Carl Hayden High School teacher and underwater robotics coach, is a hero to many.

In 2004, Fredi organized an after-school program so students could build a robot and take part in a competition with top universities around the country.

While some may have smirked at this downtown Phoenix school’s meager $800 robotics budget, Fredi’s students got the last laugh; they won the competition—even beating MIT and its $11,000 worth of equipment!

“We used to be known as the gang school,” said Lajvardi. “Now we’re known as the robotics school.”

Meet Fredi, hear his unique story of re-imaginging education, and network with other amazing innovators on November 6th, 2009, at TEDxPhoenix 2009.

Sincerely,
Samantha Miller
University Innovation Fellow, Arizona State University

Post Scriptum: We’ve embedded a great video featuring Fredi and his robotics team below.

(Subscribers, please visit the blog to view the ABC News Nightline Video)

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