Finney robotics team a winner

[Joe Ross]

It seems like this forum is severely underutilized. I always like to read about other FIRST teams.

http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/0...JOB_news.shtml

Finney robotics team a winner

School's newly formed squad tops 57 others in regional match.

By Enid Arbelo
Staff Writer

(March 24, 2004) — PENFIELD — It was a year of firsts for Charles G. Finney High School.

The private, nondenominational school started its first robotics team and won its first competition.

The Finney Falcons placed first out of 58 teams at the Chesapeake regional FIRST Robotics competition at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Saturday.

With the win, the 17 high school students earned a spot in the national championship in Atlanta. Nationals will run from April 15 to 17 at the Georgia Dome.

John Sarazyn, 18, brought the idea of a robotics team to Finney last fall. The senior from Chili worked with Finney Principal Michael Belmont and helped secure a $6,000 grant from NASA in early December.

Once the team was in place, the students had six weeks to build the robot and strategize for the March competition.

Jason Bircann, 18, a senior from Penfield, said that the team was successful because of the robot’s simple design. Other teams, he said, were at a disadvantage.

”They looked so fancy, but once they got on the playing field they couldn’t do anything,” Jason said.

During the competition, the team’s robot had to complete specific activities against other robots, such as hanging from a pole or navigating onto a platform. At times, the robot worked independently and at other times it was run by remote control.

”I originally did robotics because I thought it would be something fun to do, but now I love it,” said Kristin Donovan, 17, a junior from East Rochester.

Belmont said the school’s goal is to incorporate the robotics program into the curriculum as a way to promote hands-on learning. Students have already asked to participate next year, he said.

”There has been a lot more interest in the program,” said Aaron Roorda, 16, of Chili. “Now they know we’re not a joke.”

The team is led by advisers Jane Schantz and David Wallace, who are also Finney teachers. Schantz said the program will continue into next year, but she hopes the budget will increase from $7,000.

The team hopes to raise $10,000 for travel and registration to attend the competition through sponsors and donations. Donations can be made to Finney Falcons Robotics by calling (585) 387-3770.

EARBELO@DemocratandChronicle.com