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March 21, 2008

Santa Fe's robotics team competes in OKC

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Robotics has come to Edmond’s schools as Edmond Santa Fe High School students, the RoboLobos, take on teams from Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri in this week’s regional competition.

The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Oklahoma City Regional Robotics Competition will take place today and Saturday at the Cox Convention Center.

Students have been working since January with Randy Blackwood, Santa Fe Algebra II and AP statistics teacher, as they prepared for the competition.

According FIRST, the robotics competition is designed to promote a knowledge-based economy. This competition combines the excitement of sport with science and technology to create a unique varsity sport for the mind.

“The students will be competing with students from 38 other schools,” Blackwood said.

Students have expanded their knowledge base while working on the robot.

“I have learned to solder and I now know a lot more about mechanical things than I did before,” senior Mary Roy said. “Before, I was more of a Language Arts student.”

This is Santa Fe’s first time to enter the competition and Oklahoma’s first time to host the regional competition.

Sophomore Emilyn Bledsoe said she has learned one person can’t do it all when it comes to making a project succeed.

“It takes a team,” she said.

Thursday, students were busy practicing for the tournament by trying to knock a large ball from a platform with their robot. Points are given for hurtling the ball over the platform or for herding it under the platform.

Santa Fe’s team worked with two other teams as they took on teams from three other schools.

“Our team has around 20 high school members, and we have been mentored by students and professors at Oklahoma Christian University as well as engineers from Edmond’s Pelco Products,” Blackwood said.

Steven Bell, an OC student, served as one of the mentors for the Santa Fe students.

“While he was in high school in New Hampshire, Steven was involved with the robotics competition and had an idea of what to expect,” Blackwood said.

The team received a $5,000 grant from the state of Oklahoma, a $6,000 grant from NASA, which covered their entry fee, and funding from Wachovia Securities and First Overdrive to help make their team a reality.

This free event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday with the finals beginning Saturday afternoon.

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