MP robotics ? The team that is wired together stays together

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

To hear the words ?Mt. Pleasant Robotics? one might picture a locally owned small business or a large engineering plant. Well, although Mt. Pleasant Robotics is made up of some very professional individuals who do know more than a thing or two when it comes to the world of robots, technology, and all the nuts and bolts in between, Mt. Pleasant Robotics is not a store or a multi-faceted plant.

Rather, they are a team - a team of Mt. Pleasant High School students who have taken their collective passion for technology, engineering and robotics to another level and are dedicated to pushing the envelope and making new discoveries.

Recently, the 17-member team put one of their self-constructed robots to the test at a regional tournament featuring 23 other high school teams. In the end, Mt. Pleasant Robotics took home the Connect Award for being the team with the best implementation of community volunteerism and community outreach projects. With their victory at the regional tournament, the team effectively solidified their invitation to the Wild Card Tournament on Feb. 21.

As their next match-up is fast approaching, the team is looking forward to not only testing the limits of the wired creation they have been building on since November, but also the strength of their team?s bond and commitment to each other?s success.

?The reason that I joined (Mt. Pleasant Robotics) was because I wanted to be a part of a team and I liked the way that this team worked together,? said sophomore Abby Bixler, who?s primary duties include keeping a detailed journal of the team?s progress, sponsors and various building modifications. ?There is a lot more to this team than just working the robot at competitions?judges also score us on how we work as a team and how we collectively treat others. Each of us on the team are different, but that?s okay because we all have something to offer and bring to the table.?

As part of a typical robotics competition, robots are judged on their workability and overall structure. Robots are also asked to complete a series of tasks in which judges score them on how smoothly they are able to complete tasks and how well their handlers guide and control the robot via remote control.

As one might imagine, having a team the size of Mt. Pleasant Robotics comes at quite a hefty price. To supplement the team?s financial needs, Mt. Pleasant Robotics relies heavily on the support and generosity of its local sponsors. It?s these businesses and local supporters that, Dale Shultz, the team?s leader and computer science teacher at MPCHS says, are vital to the team?s vitality.

?The Mt. Pleasant Robotics team has had its best year ever,? Shultz says. ?We have had a lot of support from the school administration and from the community, and now we have a team at the middle school that is in their first year. Overall, we simply could not have a robotics team like the one we have if the community didn?t decide to be so generous with their support of our kids. This team is really doing some great things.?

One member of the team who is profoundly grateful for the presence of Mt. Pleasant Robotics at the high school is senior member Austin Riley.

Riley has been a member of the team almost since its conception, and it?s not hard to see his passion and love for robotics and engineering. As a senior, Riley holds a position of leadership on the team and says his experience of being a member of Mt. Pleasant Robotics has been invaluable.

?I am incredibly passionate about robotics,? says Riley. ?I want to study engineering in college, so this group has definitely given me a lot of experience in that field and has really prepared me for my future career. But this team is not just about the robots for me. It?s about being able to work with my team on this one subject that I love. It?s a nice feeling to know we have an entire group of people so passionate about learning about this one subject. It?s so much more than just a competition for me.?

For Shultz, he says he is immensely proud of the work his students do, and the camaraderie and fun they have learning and growing with each other. His hopes are that this program that has impacted his students in such a positive way is given the ability to continue and grow to be even bigger and better every year.

Looking ahead, the Mt. Pleasant Robotics team is currently prepping their robot for the next tournament on Feb. 21. Beyond that, the top teams from the Feb. 21 Wild Card Tournament will advance on to the state tournament on March 6 and 7.

To learn more about the robotics team, watch videos of their robots in action, view Bixler?s journal, or meet other members of the team, visit the team?s website at www.mountpleasantrobotics.com.