STEPPING UP ON WORLD STAGE
Local all-female robotics team shines
With Canadian Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne seeking out the Amazon Warriors, it’s safe to say Canada’s only all-female entry has exceeded expectations at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Detroit.
“She (Payette) thought an allgirls team was really cool,” said Madison Vickery, who attends Chatham’s Ursuline College but joined the Windsor-based team this year.
“She said how exciting it was to see us doing so well.
“It’s really exciting getting to meet them and hearing how proud they are of us. I’m absolutely shocked and a bit overwhelmed.” The six-member team, which also includes girls from Assumption and Essex high schools, is based at CentreLine (Windsor), which builds custom automated welding and assembly lines. With 15,000 students representing 45 countries competing, the Amazon Warriors drew attention for more than just gender. With one match to go Friday, the Amazon Warriors sat in 16th place. They had been as high as 12th before they were slowed by a technical glitch, which they repaired. Competitors score points by having their robots perform various functions. And Vickery was hoping a solid performance in their final match would put them in position to compete on championship day at Ford Field Saturday. “Originally we just wanted to have fun and do well in the districts,” Vickery said. “But we won the Essex district and the provincials and now we’re here at the world championships.”
Such stories are the timber with which educators, politicians and organizers of FIRST Robotics hope to build the future of an economy increasingly dependent on science, technology, engineering and math.
“This is a really good expression of exactly what allows this region to compete so well in the global economy,” said Wynne, who was in Detroit to sign an agreement with Michigan.
“We have terrific education opportunities and great kids who are the best in the world. To have over 15,000 of them here, competing in robotics, is such an optimistic view of the future.” Assumption’s Simona Touma had never thought of having a career in the STEM field (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The Grade 10 student works in the business part of the team helping to raise funds, do marketing, public relations and also dabble in the mechanical. “I knew it would be a great experience,” Toumo said. “The team is like a little business. It gives students interested in going into STEM a chance to experience what it’s all about.”
Hoping to join them in Saturday’s playoffs were the Sandwich Sabrebytes, who sat 21st with two matches to play.
“This is really amazing,” said Grade 11 student Griffin Howson. “It’s a gathering of some of the greatest young minds. It’s the hardest fun you’ll ever have.” Angela Bi, the team’s manager, said the Sabrebytes altered approach to the competition has led to a much better performance than at last year’s world championships in St. Louis.
“Last year one of our main concerns was doing well in the qualifying rather than looking at the big picture,” Bi said. “This year we looked more at not just doing well in qualifying, but doing well in the finals if we do make it.”
To have over 15,000 of them here, competing in robotics, is such an optimistic view of the future.