Oyster River Middle School teams reach robotics world championship
DURHAM – Three teams of Oyster River Middle School students have qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship in May.
Fourteen ORMS teams were among 40 teams who competed in the state tournament on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Manchester Community College. The competition consisted of both teamwork challenges and skills challenges. Qualifying teams are:
● Roborats: Grade 8 students Steffi Chen, Olivia Kavanagh, and Grade 7 students Yang Kong and Devon Wilson finished with the top competition score.
● One Step Behind: Grade 8 students Ian Couture, Colin Chu, Brayden Alvarez, Sam Nunoo-Quarcoo, and Cavan Wrocklage finished second.
● Scrapbots: Grade 8 students Devin More, Ryker Andersen, Nicholas Kun, and Jackson Sullivan placed fourth.
The teams advance to the 2024 VEX IQ Challenge World Championship, held May 1-3 in Dallas.
“A job well done to all our student competitors. Their teamwork and focus on developing their skills resulted in a tremendous result for our teams,” Principal Bill Sullivan said.
Six ORMS teams also were recognized by judges for exceptional effort:
● One Step Behind: Ian Couture, Colin Chu, Brayden Alvarez, Sam NunooQuarcoo, and Cavan Wrocklage also received the Amaze Award and Teamwork Champions Award
● Roborats: Steffi Chen, Olivia Kavanagh, Yuan Kong, Devon Wilson received the Excellence Award and Skills Champion Award
● Robodawgs: Parker Ahn, Owen Pierce, Theo Wilson, Cormac O’Neill received the Judges Award
● Deus Ex Machina: Fiona Liu, Diya Sridharan, Rina Han and Olivia Liu received the Design Award
● Howler Monkeys: Yizhou Zhao, Ian Zhou, Tino Leo, Sid Arthanat, and Ryan Keyes received the Create Award
● Scrapbots: Devin More, Ryker Andersen, Nick Kun, and Jackson Sullivan received the Teamwork Champions Award
John Silverio, STEM Teacher and VEX IQ program coordinator, said: “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our parents and guardians, staff, administration, and community members who supported our robotics teams during the school year. This is another triumphant performance with all three middle school qualifications secured by Oyster River Middle School students. All who joined the club gave commendable efforts and deserve our praise. It’s essential, as adults, to guide these young minds in embracing valuable lessons from both victories and setbacks, and the pursuit of continuous growth.”
“Our robotics team has always performed strongly in state competition, but this year’s achievement was incredible, with ORMS teams having the six highest competition scores and 10 of the top 11 scores,” Superintendent James C. Morse, Sr., said. “Best of luck to our teams heading to the Worlds and thank you to thank you to advisors John Silverio, Jade Terrill, and Jason Duff for sharing their talents and experience.”
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy’s FFA Chapter builds wood duck nesting boxes
NORTHWOOD — Ducks Unlimited recently received 41 wood duck nesting boxes constructed by Coe-Brown Northwood Academy’s Much-To-Do Chapter of the Future Farmers of America [FFA]. CBNA faculty member Sarah Ward ‘83 is an advisor for CBNA’s chapter and a supporter of the nesting box program.
FFA chapters are required to have a program of activities (POA) in which they need to do activities encompassing twelve areas of focus. One of those areas requires that each chapter partner with other organizations for a project that betters the community, environment, school etc. If chapters can demonstrate projects in all 12 areas, they may apply for national chapter recognition.
For the CBNA FFA, partnering with Ducks Unlimited also provided an opportunity to work with students of CBNA construction and woodworking faculty member Matt Lobdell, who oversaw the construction and assembly of the boxes. The lumber for the project was graciously donated by Precision Lumber of Wentworth, NH, while the fasteners were supplied through private donation by the McLean family. Several of these enterprising youths have agreed to place and maintain the boxes in wetlands in Rockingham and Strafford counties.