Students make finals of robotics competition

[Billfred]

From the Times-News of Hendersonville, NC (home of, among other things, my mom's side of the family, apples, and FRC 1225):

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/...cs_competition

The competition has been described as a "rock concert and sporting event for the mind rolled into one."

It's called the FIRST Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional, and it draws 1,000 high school students from across the Southeast who build robots for competition.

This year, Henderson County high school students reached the finals for the first time.

The Henderson County Robotics Team, called "Amperage," was among 36 teams from eight states to recently compete in the event at Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson.

Amperage, which includes students from East and Hendersonville high schools, received the challenge in January. Build a robot, the challenge went, one that can race around a track and hurl a giant red ball over or under a 6-foot-6-inch overpass.

The team had six weeks to assemble its robot for the competition.

"It was pretty tough," said teammate Hunter Kowald, a 15-year-old freshman at Hendersonville High School. "We worked just about every night and on weekends."

They worked long hours, often past midnight at North Henderson High. The robotic throwing arm gave the team problems as time ticked away, so team members cut their losses and focused on making the fastest robot possible.

"We made our robot to be just like a rabbit for speed," said Alex Kowald, Hunter's brother and a 16-year-old junior at Hendersonville High.

Teams were judged on point accumulation, design, team spirit, professionalism and perseverance. When the competition ended, Amperage emerged with its best finish yet even though they were knocked out in the finals.

"As far as a learning experience, it's really unique," said Ken Butcher, an engineer who mentors the team.

The students must complete a task with limited time and money and in the face of stiff competition, Butcher said.

"I would actually say it's a really good simulation of what engineers do," said Butcher, who owns Shining Rock Technologies.

Dr. Helen Owen of Henderson County Public Schools said the team is trying to recruit more students. Interested students can talk to their principals.

"We're trying to generate interest and have all the schools participate in the coming year," Owen said.

The Henderson County Robotics Team includes Louise Wyatt, Don Mayo, Richard Overstreet and Allen Overstreet from East Henderson High. It also includes Alex Kowald, Hunter Kowald, Garrett Pellman and Sean Davis of Hendersonville High.

Adult volunteers include Brian Kowald, Dave Pellman and Ken Butcher. Faculty sponsors are Tom Patten of East High and Kendall Taylor of Hendersonville High. Owen is the sponsor from Henderson County Public Schools.

The team also received mentoring from two students experienced in the competition, Elliott Smyers and Brent Cantrell. The team received financial support from Henderson County Public Schools, the Duke Energy Foundation and Selee Corp.