Published: November 13, 2008 10:51 pm      

Edmond high schools receive robotics grants

EDMOND — With $11,000 in grant money in hand, Edmond Memorial High School is off to a good start for its newly formed Robotics Club.

“We received a $5,000 grant from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and a $6,000 grant from NASA,” said one of the club’s co-sponsors, Michelle Madison. The other co-sponsor is Steve Bowlware.

The club will join Santa Fe High School’s Robotics Club as the second one in the district.

Santa Fe has learned it will receive second-time grants from NASA in the amount of $6,000 and a $3,666.67 grant from the Oklahoma Department of Education.

State Superintendent Sandy Garrett announced 24 high schools across the state were receiving state-funded robotics grants. This is the second year for the robotics grant program, which distributes $100,000 annually in competitive grants.

The high schools receiving the grants, by law, must use the funds for entrance in Oklahoma regional and/or national robotics competitions.

“This is an exciting program that was created as part of Oklahoma’s Creativity Project,” Garrett said. “In a time when our state and country are desperate for more professionals in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, projects like this are an effective way to nurture and challenge students who have an interest and talent in these subjects.”

Both clubs will be mentored by university professors and students as well as engineers.

The 14 members and five officers of Memorial’s club will be mentored by the University of Central Oklahoma’s Engineering and Physics Department Chairman Baha Jasfemnejad, who is also the director of UCO Robotics. Graduate student Richard Pee will assist as well as some of the UCO Robotics Club students.

“UCO will be allowing our students to use the electrical, mechanical and engineering labs as well as their machine shop,” Madison said.

Parent George Gattenby, an engineer at Tinker Air Force Base, and one of his colleagues, Willie Montgomery, also will mentor the students.

“I am so excited with our mentors who have volunteered,” Madison said. “Dr. Choon Yik Tang with the OU Engineering Department and his students will be traveling to UCO to mentor also.”

In addition to the Oklahoma State Department of Education and NASA, Santa Fe’s Robotics Club, the RoboLobos, also are partnering financially with Pelco Products in Edmond, Pelco Structural in Claremore, New Dominion Oil in Tulsa, KimRay in Oklahoma City and Kirkpatrick Bank in Edmond.

“Fife/Maxcess International is participating as a mentor, and in addition to the mentors from the companies, Mark Whiteley, a parent sponsor, will also be mentoring the students,” said Santa Fe RoboLobo sponsor Randy Blackwood.

Santa Fe is having an open house and reception at 7 p.m. Tuesday to show appreciation for their sponsors.