PRANAV PAPALI, COLUMNISTS 6:19 p.m. ET Feb. 16, 2017

The Tec Tigers meet weekly at Parkside High School to work on designing and building robots for competition.(Photo: submitted image)

Young people are a crucial element to building the community of Salisbury. To drive their success, programs involving STEM(science, technology, engineering, math) expose them to real-world applications.

The Wicomico County Robotics Team, the Tec Tigers, enables high school students to engineer a robot (tasked with completing certain actions) in addition to acquiring new skills in leadership, teamwork and programming.

It is a nonprofit after-school club dedicated to developing students into engineers. Three separate robotics programs are available to students, who may choose to compete in one of three platforms.

These programs award participating high school students with scholarships. This year, two of the programs are offering a total of $50 million in scholarships.

Colleges around the world have recognized the skills high school students acquire through FIRST robotics (the nonprofit organization that coordinates the robotics competitions).

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Each program presents the team with a different challenge.

For example, robots must complete tasks such as launching projectiles, hanging on bars, grasping objects and much more to score points in a match.

All three robotics programs require the team of students to create a computer model of the robot, program the robot and construct the robot. All teams are also required to record their progress in an engineering notebook.

By using the notebook, students are able to effectively use the design process, record the goals and accomplishments for each meeting, and include the progressive development of their robot through drawings and computer aided design, or CAD, models.

Mentors are present to advise and guide students during their engineering process; however, the teams are student-led.

The team was initially begun by two teachers who work at Parkside High School, David and Jenny Miles, in 2010, in response to a lack of STEMactivities available for high-schoolers in the area.

The Tec Tigers meet at Mr. Miles engineering classroom at Parkside. Each year, approximately 30 students join the Tec Tigers (most of whom are returning members).

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Since the establishment of the team, 94 percent of the teams alumni have attended college, 75 percent of whom are majoring or have majored in STEM-related programs.

We joined the Tec Tigers in 2016, so this is our first year as members. The team provides an outlet for us to embrace our passion for robotics, enriching us with new knowledge on a daily basis.

Not only does the Wicomico County Robotics Team help us to build our resumes, it primarily gives us exposure to the engineering field.

This is why the team is significant in developing the next generation of engineers and leaders.

Funds needed to maintain and supply the team are provided through grants, fundraising, and sponsors. Sponsors for the team include NASA, The Bank of Willards, Chesapeake Pediatric, Peninsula Allergy and Asthma, First Shore Federal Savings and Loan, and others.

In addition, our team members and mentors organize fundraisers throughout the year.

We would like to give a special thanks to all the mentors who guide the Tec Tigers: Tom Mader, Missy Mader, Franklin Reyes, Thomas Ayres, Kraig Ames, James Culp III, Holly Hatton, David Miles and Jenny Miles.

With more support from our community, we can keep the Tec Tigers thriving for many years to come.

Pranav Papali is a junior and Pritika Papali is a sophomore at Salisbury Christian School.

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Robotics competition launches careers in tech - Delmarva Daily Times