Students from Chicago Heights School District 170’s Wilson Schools’ Robotics Team recently completed a successful season participating in the 2017 Illinois 4H Robotics Challenge at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield.
Competing at the challenge’s top level against elite Robotics squads from schools across the state Wilson finished 13th out of 75 teams.
That result was an improvement of nine places from its showing at the 2016 state tournament.
“I am so proud of the effort put forth by the members of our team,” said coach Joseph Frieders.
“In only our second year of competition, our team continues to improve their performance and impress everyone with their commitment and talent.”
At the state competition, students will demonstrate robot/computer programming (basic, precision and parallel command strings) along with robot designs to accomplish tasks (e.g. use of gears, levers, etc.). Other areas showcased will include field models to perform tasks, sensors used within a computer program to complete tasks, and teamwork strategies to solve problems.
The team prepared for the state-level competition at the Cook County 4H Robotics Tournament held last month in Arlington Heights.
“At the county competition our team was able to learn what improvements needed to be made to ensure success at the state tournament,” Frieders noted.
The fifth- through eighth-grade students who competed for Wilson School included team captains and returnees Daniel Buenostro and Marshall Mathers, Jahmar Boyd, Daelona Creal, Karma Killingworth, Omarion Floyd, and Anthony Guerrero.
Frieders was effusive in praising his second-year squad.
“Our students did a phenomenal job in competing successfully against far more experienced teams," he said. “Some of the teams we competed against are part of the First Lego League, which conducts tournaments all around the world.”
The Illinois 4H Robotics Challenge is a sanctioned First Lego League competition.
While reviewing his squad’s performance, Frieders acknowledged Buenrostro and Mathers’ positive impact on the team.
“You cannot overestimate the importance of the experience that Daniel and Marshall brought to the table,” he said.
"Their skill in building, coding, design and strategy in setting up a field, and running the robots were essential elements in any success that our team earned this year.”
Wilson School’s Robotics Team works in concert with the University of Illinois Extension and the 4-H Youth Development in a program that integrates the 4-H Robotics Curriculum providing students with the opportunity to engage critical thinking in mathematics, science exploration, and programming skills through robotics.