High Point hosts robotics competition
SUSSEX BOROUGH — At the top of winding, Wantage hills, 28 teams energetically competed at the Regional VEX Robotics Tournament on Jan. 9, hosted by the High Point Regional High School Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Department.
The commitment to robotics and Integrated STEM was evident as students congenially competed with one another, amidst the twisting, whir of robotic metal gears.
This year the challenge is: “Nothing but Net,” where the students' robots compete to shoot as many balls into nets as possible. Each team's robot showcases basic robotic design and computer programming.
The teams also reviewed their engineer's log book, physics, math, and design process during a ten minute interview with panel judges. There the students were judged on criteria other than the number of balls landed in nets.
In addition, during the finals' challenges, qualifying teams had the opportunity to develop alliance partnerships with teams which did not qualify.
High Point had three competing teams: “E.L.K.”, “Failure, Duo, and Shrope,” and “Drelick.”
STEM Supervisor, Brian Drelick, explained that after driving five to six hours home through a snowstorm last year from the state championship, they decided it was easier to host a “Round Robin” competiton at High Point. Now they have their own competition field and are hosting tournaments. Thirteen of their students qualified to compete in the Dallas National competition last year.
Alex Gonzalez, technology Student Association Advisor, and Matt Garrera, former High Point robotics competitor and current Technology Education teacher, also prepare and accompany students to VEX competitions.
Drelick said that High Point STEM students begin technology classes of basic structures in ninth grade; mechanism, forces, circuits, electronics, and computer programming in tenth grade; and honors classes in technology, math, science, and business during the third year. Students are prepared to master all four levels, and the program is open to any student.
Four Seniors benefiting from the High Point program are “Team Drelick.” One member, Julia, said she cried when she learned that Drelick had been promoted from teaching their class. All four agreed that because of their former teacher, they are inspired to pursue engineering in college.
Ben Mitchell, of non-profit “Garden State Robotics,” runs and donates his time to VEX Robotic competitions from Wantage to Cape May. He, too, competed as a student, in spite of being extremely shy, and learned what he calls, “Co-opertition,” helping and competing at the same time. Now he wants to give students the same life changing experiences he had, which ultimately led him to becoming an Engineering and Design teacher.