Niklas Murray Memorial Sponsorship
About
The Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship fund established in memory of Niklas Murray, an inspiring coach on Citrus Circuits who passed away in 2023. The scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors who are a current member of a team attending the Capital City Classic Off-Season Competition and will be a first generation student in their family to attend post-secondary education.
How to Apply
To apply for the Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship, students must fill out the application form provided to each team attending Capital City Classic and submit it by the application deadline for that year.
The application consists of a 300-word essay describing each applicant's experience on their FRC team and how that experience impacted their future goals after graduating high school. Team mentors will be contacted to verify current team participation.
The applications are reviewed by a panel from the Davis Robotics Foundation and up to two recipients are selected annually.
Where to Donate
Donations to the Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship are tax-deductible and can be made online by visiting our PayPal link:
Or by mail to:
​Davis Robotics Foundation
Attn: Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 577
Davis, CA 95617
Checks should be made out to “Davis Robotics Foundation” with the memo line of “Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship”
Past Winners
The following students have been awarded the Niklas Murray Memorial Scholarship:
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2023: James Spencer, 2288 Hydra Robotics
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2023: Sabrina Guo, Team 253 Boba Bots
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2022: Daniel Apolinar, Team 7528 Nuts and Bolts
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2022: Alejandro Beltran, Team 6884 Deep Space
NIKlas murray's first legacy
Niklas (Nik) Murray began his FIRST journey as a student on FRC team 701, the RoboVikes, in Fairfield, CA. Nik was a student leader in charge of many aspects of team operations, including leading the electrical system.
After high school, Nik moved to Michigan to study Engineering at Kettering University. While in Michigan, he coached FRC Team 1684, the Chimeras, and later FRC Team 148, the Robowranglers. Nik’s expertise in FRC led to to him being a regular contributor to FIRST Updates Now, a FIRST-focused web show.
In 2022, Nik moved back to the Sacramento area to further his career as a flight instructor and receive treatment for a rare kidney disease. Nik began coaching FRC Team 1678, Citrus Circuits, working with the electrical and strategy subteams. Despite his ongoing health issues, Nik put in countless hours developing students in their passions for STEM.
Nik passed away in November 2023 due to health complications. His impact on FIRST will be felt for generations to come.