Oklahoma City, OK -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/17/2016 -- The STEM Academy's FIRST Robotics Team 5578, otherwise known as the Mechanical Monsters, just competed in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) regional competition. This team placed 42 out of a total of 62 teams from across the state of Oklahoma to compete against each other using robots that were designed and built by the students that make up each team.
STEM teacher Janet Portwood stated that the students involved in this competition learned a lot throughout the year as well as had a lot of fun coming together to work on this project.
All of the students on the team were new to FIRST Robotics except for one. A vast majority of the team was made up of younger students, and Portwood predicts that they will do even better next year as they get more experience doing this type of work. All of the students on the team that competed devoted a large portion of their time and effort to get to where they are now. Portwood said that she was very proud of all the students on the team who competed.
The FIRST Robotics competition is multinational and brings together professionals and young students to solve a wide range of engineering design problems in a competitive way that forces them to work together. This program has been described by many as life-changing, helping to prepare students for careers in the real world after they graduate. The cooperation that the students on the teams that compete against each other demonstrate is required to do well in order to win.
The teams of students and mentors are given a total of six weeks to design and build a robot from a standard kit of parts to compete against each other each year. The teachers of the students that made up this robotics team, including Mrs. Portwood, Mrs. Freeman, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. McMurray, and Mr. Roberts, all expressed their great pride because of how well they did in the competition.
The STEM Academy is the home of the new Science, Engineering and Technology program as well as Metro Technology Centers. This academy's goal is to help students prepare for their future careers by challenging their intellects with difficult problems to solve. The career majors that are currently housed at the STEM Academy include PLTW Pre-Engineering as well as Advanced PLT Pre-Engineering.
About Metro Technology Centers
Metro Technology Centers is a career and technology center with four campuses. The school was established in 1979 by a vote of the people to serve Oklahoma City in providing career and technology education (CTE). Metro Tech provides full-time career majors for high school and adult students. High school students receive credit toward high school graduation. Both student groups can earn trade certifications and/or licenses.
Contact:
Shaun Dillehay
Metro Technology Centers
Address: 1900 Springlake Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Phone: 405-424-8324
Email: Shaun.Dillehay@metrotech.edu
Website: http://www.metrotech.edu/