On Dec. 20, competitors in Michigan’s largest middle school robotics event to date’attracting about 50 teams statewide? gathered at Brandon High School for the First Tech Challenge Supra.
Brandon Tech, representing Brandon Middle School with robot #5976, advanced to the semi finals following the day long event. The BMS team’s finish, along with the software and robot design, qualified the team a place in the state finals Jan. 10 at Lakeview High School, in Battle Creek. The team was also awarded the ‘Think? award for work done on their engineering notebook.
The successful BMS team, comprised of seventh and eighth grade students are part of a growing local robotics team that now exceeds 200 students, incorporating second through twelfth grades.
Statewide the popularity of robotics has also grown.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in Michigan has grown to 323 registered robotics teams statewide thanks to more than $5 million in grants available through the Michigan Department of Education in the past two years.
‘Robotics teams like Brandon Tech continue to grow in the area schools,? said Andrew Spiece, Brandon team leader. ‘Beginning in January we have 35 Brandon and Holly High School students participating in the FIRST Robotics Challenge launching this year’s FIRST Robotics Challenge game broadcasted worldwide on the NASA Channel.?
More than 250,000 students from all over the world will tune in to learn this year’s game challenge and begin six weeks of working as a team with engineers and business professionals to build a 150-pound robot to compete, added Spiece.
‘The team will be competing for a bid to the Michigan State Championships in Grand Rapids and the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, Mo., in April,? he added. ‘While the building process provides opportunities to work alongside professional mentors, they will learn what it takes to compete in today’s workforce and have a ton of fun in the process.?
Team members from Truck Town Thunder have earned over $750,000 since 2010 and gained access to over $20 million in scholarships. Since 2010, every student graduating from the team has received a scholarship and team members have succeeded in attending the top engineering schools in the country.?
Some of the area sponsors include, Brandon Tire, Bullfrogs, Bueche’s Food World, Chrysler, The Citizen newspaper, Cook’s Farm Dairy, Continental, D. Scott VanderVeen, D.D.S., Genesys Credit Union, Esys Automation, Ferris State Softball Team, First Impressions Dental, General Motors, Heller Machine Tools, HealthQuest Physical Therapy, Holly Candle Shoppe, IBM, Macphee’s, Michigan Renaissance Festival, North Oakland Co. Chapter of Thrivent Lutherans, Order Up Catering, Paul Bishop, RDM Manufacturing Precision CNC, Shaklee Products, and Thompson’s Hardware.
‘We have many possibilities for adults and organizations to partner with the program. The success of this tremendous program could not be accomplished without the generous support of our partners. As well as local engineers and business professionals volunteering their time to mentor area youth in the fastest growing youth program in the country.?
For more information on how you might be able to help contact Andrew Spiece by email at aspiece@gmail.com or by phone at 810-545-7315.