Robotics team places in national competition | News | kingstreenews … – Kingstree News

Hemingway Tigers 6222 placed as one on the top eight teams in the 14th Annual Palmetto Regional FIRST Robotics Competition held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach in March. Photo Provided

Hemingway Tigers 6222 placed as one on the top eight teams in the 14th Annual Palmetto Regional FIRST Robotics Competition held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach in March.

This team was established during the 2015-2016 school term as a partnership between Hemingway High School and Hemingway Career and Technology Center to further inspire students with an interest in engineering, science and mathematics; however, students, who are members of this team, have varying interests, skill levels and career goals. Membership on this unique team allows them to build on each others strengthens by working collaboratively to build a robot that performs all the mechanisms needed for successful competition.

Wade Nettles, Science Teacher at Hemingway High School, shared that while every win is great, this years win at the FIRST Robotics Competition in February was very special. He explained that last year the team went to competition unfamiliar with the specifics of competition as well as apprehensive of the outcome. Nettles shared that while at the 2016 competition a former graduate of Hemingway High School, Raymond Rollins, met the team and was inspired to partnered with them along with his son, Daniel, and return to the 2017 competition with more confidence and with a robot designed to place. Rollins and Daniel worked closely with the team and advisors by acting as mentors and working diligently to secure sponsorships. Nettles said, We knew we would do better this year.

At the end of the first day of competition, we placed fourth and remained in the top eight throughout the second day. When the finals began, we were in the top six. We are proud of our team members who realized through this experience the benefit of working hard and remaining to be persistent.

Hemingway Tigers 6222 received help from several other teams last year; they made the administration of the school proud to see them helping other teams this year. According the Principal Glen Kennedy, it has been amazing to see students with nothing in common talking together and working collaborative to create the best robot for competition.

I am very impressed with the improvements of this team in such a short period of time. These students are amazing and dedicated, and I know that they will not forget this experience. I am appreciative to everyone who helped students to realize that they have outstanding skills that can help them later in life.

Shamar Washington, who is a senior and one of the eighteen students on Team 6222, shared that when he first became involved with robotics, it was a smaller more inexperienced team. He mentioned that when the team arrived at the competition last year, they lost but learned a lot from the experience. We were amazed at the robots that were there, Washington said. He shared that their goal was to make the top eight and he is proud that all team members did a great job. There is no leader, we all have a role to play. Danial helped us organize this team and we contributed equally. We had so much support as we prepared for this years competition, Washington added.

Torrance Wilson, Director of Career and Technology Education, said, It is through experiences like this that students realize how their skills in science and math can be used in various careers. I watched these students prepare for competition with so much enthusiasm. They have made us very proud, and we appreciate sponsors and parents for their support and interest in this STEM initiative.

Michael Harper feels that it is important to have good communication skills to be an effective member of the team. You really dont need a lot of experience because its always something you can do on the team, Michael added. Michael is a senior and plans to become a game designer.

Robotics competitions prepare students for the real-world and foster intense learning that promotes increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Students at Hemingway High School and Hemingway Career and Technology Center have made the district proud as they have challenged themselves with the assistance of their teachers and mentors to become immerse in creative challenges, project planning and management, design thinking and teamwork. We look forward to hearing more positive things about Hemingway 6222. We encourage more students at Hemingway High School with talents in mathematics and science to become involved with robotics, pursue STEM careers and become leaders in science and technology said Superintendent of Williamsburg County School District, Carrie Brock.

Hemingway Tiger 6222 Drive Team members are Michael Harper, Johnavan Barkers, Logan Evans and Warren Williams. Team Coordinators are Trelashia Sessions and Zaria Thompkins. Team Mechanics are Rayshawn Lewis, Brayon Alston, Hakeem Thompson and Azavia Scott. Safety Coordinators are Gavin Rollins and Ronzell Bluefort. Team Programmers are Logan Carley and Sean Cannon. Team Support Staff Members are Quaila Flegler, Chalinda Lasane and Amaya Greene. Team Spokesperson is Shamar Washington.

Carolina Cool, Grand Strand Business Alliance, Metal Fab and Contractors, GS Tech, Fastenal, BC Films, Coastal Distribution and Reprap Guru sponsored the team.

Mrs. Doreen Green and Ms. Betty Seller, both teachers at Hemingway High School, assist Nettles with the team along with Gregory Glisson, teacher at Hemingway Career and Technology Center.

FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition. Annually, each team of students and mentors work during a six-week period to build game-playing robots weighing in excess of 100 pounds.

These robots complete specific tasks with specifications that changes yearly making the competition thrilling with a more level playing field for each team. Hemingway 6222 placed 55 out of 62 in 2015-2016.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is one of four robotics competition programs organized by FIRST, the other three being FIRST Lego League Jr., FIRST Lego League, and the FIRST Tech Challenge.

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Robotics team places in national competition | News | kingstreenews ... - Kingstree News