DeSoto robotics
Students win first place in the state level tourney
It may not talk or be ready for jobs in space, but the robot built by students in DeSoto County School’s Career Tech West Engineering and Robotics picks up pegs and stacks them well enough to win first prize at the Technology Student Association State Level Competition in Jackson last month.
Each year, VEX Robotics challenges students to build innovative robots designed to compete and show off their skills in the form of a game tournament. The game changes every year and schools are divided into groups of three. Together, teams in each group choose the best robot or robots, depending on the challenge, to complete the objective. This year, the CTC-West team partnered with teams from Ridgeland and Tupelo high schools.
“At the competition, the students learn about networking, programming and a lot about team work,” said Theresa Holland, CTC-West engineering and robotics instructor. “They are paired with people they don’t know and have to work together and come up with a strategy. Some robots are better at some things and not every robot can do everything.”
Junior Jason Tomasi is one of Holland’s students. He said the competition is a great learning experience that highlights all the things learned in the Engineering and Robotics program at CTC-West.
“I’ve learned more in the class than I have in any other class in high school,” Tomasi said. “We all work well together and we are always pouring ideas; sometimes there are arguments, but part of (the program) is learning to listen to others’ ideas and work it out.”
Holland said the class is very nontraditional. Rather than presiding over any sort of lecture, she gives them the assignments, tools and resources and students research and find ways to complete them.
The TSA VEX robotics competition is separate from, and in addition to, all the work they do in class. The team had to raise funds for materials, transportation and a two night stay in Jackson. They also had to raise funds for travel to a qualifier in Madison, Miss. The CTC-West team robot is made of about 200 pieces and has nine motors. Students have been working on it since September and it has seen more incarnations than they can count.
“The only thing we haven’t changed are the wheels. The wheels are the same as they were on day one,” said senior, Trey Adcock.
The team even worked over spring break to make up for all the days lost to bad weather. Junior Christian Bond said right now the team is facing another kind of challenge — fundraising for next year. “I’m working on a fundraising letter to send to local and national businesses and even going to send it to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation,” he said.
The CTC-West Engineering and Robotics program is only in its second year, so there is a lot more they could do with more funds. While the group has several conventional fundraisers throughout the year and accepts donations, Holland also needs engineers to speak to students about their experiences. Hearing from professionals in the industries these students will be entering is extremely valuable, she said.
Holland also needs support and sponsors so the group could someday hold a robotics competition in DeSoto County.
Those interested in sponsoring or helping the Engineering and Robotics program, either financially or otherwise, can contact Holland at the CTC-West at 662393- 6211. Holland also encourages any DeSoto County Schools student interested in engineering and robotics to contact their guidance counselor about enrollment. The two-year program is open to those in grades 10, 11 and 12. The CTC-West serves students from several DeSoto County schools. Students attend regular classes at their respective high schools and are provided transportation to the CTC for the additional classes.