Students Facts

In 1982, a Texas college student named Gregory Watson got a C on a paper arguing that a 1789 amendment by James Madison had no deadline and could still pass. He spent ten years writing letters to state lawmakers, and in 1992 it became the 27th Amendment. In 2017, his professor signed off on changing his grade to an A. Madison's amendment has been in the Constitution ever since.

UBC student Tim Chen realises it is cheaper to fly to class than pay rent. So he lives with his parents in Calgary and flies to Vancouver for class. Flights: $1,200 CAD/month. Vancouver one-bed: $2,700 CAD. He pockets the $1,500 difference. "It's a one-hour flight - same as taking a bus."

Every January, thousands of high school teams open the same box: the same kit of parts, the same rules for everyone. They get six weeks to build a working robot from scratch. It started in 1992 with 28 teams in a New Hampshire gym. More than 3,700 teams compete now, mentors giving up nights and weekends in the shop. Every year, thousands of teams still finish and put a robot on the field.