Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Robotics team wins award for gracious professionalism
Team members from left are front row, Oliver Blood, Ted Norton and Michaela Harris, Ruby Claire Johnson Leung and Keith Stormo; second row, Andrew Kranick, Chris Harris, Oliver Minor-Scarpare, William Kranick, Jaden Lee, Elizabeth Salmond, Mason Bledsoe, Liam Rhoden, Peter Krause, Zofia Brannon, Ellery Blood, Heidi Casten, and Carl Hauser; third row, Seth Jepsen, Nick Lee, Bill Herrmann, Ben Herrmann and Daniel Brannon.
YAKIMA - The 4-H Palouse Area Robotics Team, SciBorgs, brought home the Gracious Professionalism Award from the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - dubbed FIRST - Robotics Competition on Friday and Saturday, March 15 and March 16, in the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The local team comprised Andrew Kranick of Colfax, Oliver Blood of Pullman, and Seth, Ruby Claire Johnson Leung, and Mason Bledsoe, all of Moscow.
The Gracious Professionalism Award celebrates the demonstration of FIRST core values, such as teamwork, fairness, humility, positivity and respect.
"Most of you have seen this team helping another team or have been helped yourselves. Even outside of competitions, this team goes above and beyond year-round to educate, support, and collaborate with other teams and STEAM learners of all ages," judges said of the Palouse team.
"Getting the gracious professionalism award was very exciting and rewarding for all the ways in which we help others at competition," Michaela Harris said.
The SciBorgs competed against 27 other high school teams from the league's Pacific Northwest District.
During the 2.5-minute matches, the robot drive team - made up with an operator, driver, coach, technician and human player - guided their robot and worked with other partner to earn ranking points.
Mentor Helena Johnson said she is proud of the team.
"We had some mechanical difficulties, but they worked through them," she said.
In addition to the Gracious Professionalism Award, Leung was named the District Championship Dean's List Semi-Finalist, and will compete at the Pacific Northwest Championships in Portland from April 4-6.
"I'm really excited to go to District Championships to compete," Leung said.
"The team's student-led structure has allowed me to grow as a leader and in my communication skills."
Leung is lead robot CAD designer, co-lead mechanical student, drive team coach and lead business student on the team.
The SciBorgs team 4061 consists of high school students from Colfax, Pullman, Moscow, and surrounding areas.
The Colfax branch of the Whitman County Library will host SciBorg from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for after-school robotic challenges Thursday, March 21.
SciBorgs will appear with their robot, Forte61, at the the upcoming 15th annual Washington State University's Kids Science and Engineering Day from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at Sloan Hall, 405 Northeast St.
The event is themed "Journey to the Jurassic.
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