[Al Skierkiewicz]

Our students participation determines grade since this is a for credit class, for all quarters. The entire team meets on Monday nights to get weekly assignments, work on projects and the mini competition (fall through December) and give and get sub team weekly reports during robot season. We have 75 registered students, but we don't have perfect attendance. During build, test and practice, sub teams meet several times a week. Electrical and mechanical give support during practice. Playing field does most of their work early on then start on the shipping container. We take a skeleton group to our first regional. The second is the Midwest regional held close by so all the team can come. Then we take 30-35 students to the nationals. Each of the sub teams is given a certain number that can go and it is up to the adults on the team to make recomendations. The teachers have the final say based on a variety of factors like attendance, fund raising, participation and grades. We try to get each of the subteams working closely with mentors and the students get a chance to see what it is like to work in a corporate environment. Large teams do get uncontrolled at times, but the students do get a chance to experience things they would not have a chance to otherwise.