KHS Robotics Team inspires students to achieve in science and technology
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
Two of the team's creations "shooting hoops."
KENNETT — One of Kennett High’s newest clubs, the Robotics Team, is already making a name for itself, bringing home accolades to speak to their impressive achievements—in only a short span of existence.
“At our first competition we won the ‘Coopertition’ Award and the Rookie All-Star Award. At our second competition, we won the Highest Rookie Seed Award, and we placed 2nd overall in the competition,” Physics teacher and Robotics Team lead mentor Daniel Folmar said. “We’ve competed in two district level events against teams from Eastern PA, New Jersey, and Delaware.”
The genesis of the 13-participant club occurred when a student asked Folmar to be the group’s advisor. “One of our students, Steven Lawton, approached me in September of this past year about acting as the advisor for the team. We formed the team in late September and registered with FIRST,” he said.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur, Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
Based in Manchester, NH this not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while also building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.
Kennett’s Robotics team has been competing in FIRST competitions since its inception and has faced off against other schools belonging to the organization—that’s 26,800 teams representing upwards of 293,000 students from grades K-12.
“[The Team]not only provides students with hands-on experience in designing and building a robot but also with working as a team to achieve very aggressive goals.” Folmar said.
Those students also represent a wide range of academic interests, Folmar stated, “Some are interested in science and engineering but not all of them. We also have business and artistic talent”
Students working in the preliminary stages of robot construction.
The robots created by the team are able to perform a variety of tasks. Most recently, the group has developed one capable of making free throw shots into a basketball hoop.
In order to accomplish these tasks, students use computer programs such as CAD drafting software to configure the specifications of the machines and good, old-fashioned elbow grease to actually assemble them out of many metal parts, wires, wheels, and other components.
The Team, comprised of 9th to 12th graders continues to roll forward, designing and producing robots for future competition and the chance to bring more accolades to Kennett High’s halls.
