Norfolk teen wins robotics competition award – 13newsnow.com

Norfolk girl wins robotics competition award

Arrianee LeBeau, WVEC 3:49 PM. EDT May 07, 2017

Chai Hibbert and her robotic creation (Photo: 13News Now)

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- A junior at Norfolk Academy beat out thousands of students from nearly 30 different countries, taking home a prestigious robotics award.

Last weekend, Marissa ChaiHibbertreceived the Dean's List Award from the 'FIRST' tech challenge in Saint Louis.It stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology."

In many ways, Chaiis like most teenage girls. She gets a little giddy when she's talking about things she loves... but her love is for robots.

"When I was 10, 11 years old, my dad -- he's an engineer, a captain in the Navy -- we sat down and watched a couple of videos of autonomous robots. And I was just sitting watching the TV and I was like, 'This is so cool. I wanna do this,'" she recalls.

At Norfolk Academy, Chai is part of the Bulldog Robotics Team 8095. This past year with 21 kids on the team, they built this:

(Photo: 13News Now)

"These are the aluminum grabbers that grab the Wiffle balls and have them travel up this track with 3D printed wheels," Chaisays, describing her robotic creation. "We had to have a bunch of balls be able to come up here and shoot out."

She adds, "Once we finally got it, we were so excited."

Chai's team reached the finals this past year at a state FIRST TECH CHALLENGE tournament. She was chosen as one of five students in the state to compete for an award at the international FIRST Championship for robotics in St. Louis.

Out of nearly 15,000 students from 33 countries, only 20 were chosen as winners of the FIRST Dean's List Award.

Chai was one of them.

"I think what really made her distinctive was that she didn't just focus on the robot," says her physics teacher Robert Call. "FIRST is not to be seen just as a robotics program or a robotics competition, but as a program that really teaches kids how to do program and how to run an engineering project."

And sure, being a part of the robotics team is fun for Chai. But she also knows by doing so, she's showing the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education.

"Just the fact that I have gotten the chance to be a Dean's List winner, I want to make sure that I get this out to as many people as possible," Chai says. "Especially minorities, especially girls, because we can do this!"

No matter what you may fear,Chai says don't be afraid to face it, because you never know what reward may be on the other side.

"Just let go of that fear you have. Be completely calm about it, and enjoy the process," she says.

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