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Williamston High School’s Rookie First Robotics Team Earns Recognition at District Event

Posted at 6:52 PM, Mar 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-11 18:52:30-04

WILLIAMSTON, Mich. — Williamston High School’s First Robotics team entered their first year of competition as underdogs, but quickly earned the respect of veteran teams from around Michigan. At their first ever robotics meet at Kettering University, the team earned the Heart Award, presented to the rookie team that shows heart, unity, respect despite challenges as a rookie team. Additionally, the team was presented with the Rookie All Star Award which celebrates the rookie team that inspires students to learn more about science and technology. “This initial competition was a learning experience,” said Coach Cody Reeve, “but the team performed like a top contender.” The WHS Robotics Team is part of the Williamston Community Schools K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) initiative.

The District’s First Robotics Team was made possible through a series of grants and partnerships with the local and regional business community. Coach Reeve recruited the team, emphasising the opportunity to compete while extending understanding of coding, engineering, design, and strategy. Williamston Freshman Tala Eichler assessed her experience thus far, "the competitions are incredible amounts of fun, but the real benefit is that I have learned to use new tools and to work cooperatively with all different kinds of people."

The 2019 First Robotics theme is Destination Deep Space which consists of maneuvering a robot on a habitat platform as well as loading hatch panels and cargo onto various rockets arranged within the competition field. The most exciting and challenging part of the competition is the 15 second sandstorm period where the view of the students driving the robot is blocked and the engineers need to operate through a camera. Coach Reeve emphasized the substantial challenges the team needed to overcome to be successful. “We lacked previous experience designing, programming, and driving our robot, but our students pushed through and earned a lot of positive feedback from other competitors.”

After a second district event in Milford the team is hoping to pick up an invitation to join an alliance at the state meet later this winter. The team practices regularly and will continue to improve as it prepares for its second season during the 2019-2020 school year.The District plans to expand the First Robotics team in future years while fostering relationships with local businesses interested in joining the First Robotics community.

This initiative is a part of a larger STEAM initiative throughout the K-12 education of all students. Below is a video from the district that shares more about this larger initiative.

Williamston: Leaders in Steam Education

For more information on the the First Robotics team and the District’s K-12 STEAM initiative, visit the Williamston Community Schools website at www.gowcs.net.