The Edmond Sun

Local News

Discussion

November 13, 2008

Edmond high schools receive robotics grants

Patty Miller

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.

Text Only
Local News
  • jc_babyA.jpg OU Medical Edmond greets 100th baby

    Sometimes it seems as if history repeats itself.
    My Birth Center at OU Medical Center Edmond delivered its 100th baby at 7:42 a.m. Friday, 44 years after the hospital’s first 100th baby was born in 1968. My Birth Center opened in September, becoming the first birth place available in Edmond since 2005.

    February 11, 2012 3 Photos

  • 2-11 Police & fire runs

    February 11, 2012

  • School board candidates release financial reports

    Both candidates running for the Edmond school board District No. 1 seat filed their first of two financial reports with the school administration.

    February 11, 2012

  • 2-11 Edmond Senior Center calendar

    The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
    For information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the website at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
    Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m.
    For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    February 10, 2012

  • State schools to receive No Child Left Behind waiver

    State Secretary of Education Phyllis Hudecki announced Thursday Oklahoma is one of 10 states chosen to receive a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements.

    February 10, 2012

  • Logan Co. Democrats to meet Monday

    The Logan County Democratic Committee will have its monthly meeting on Monday.
    The main order of business will be Get Out the Vote for the April 3 state Senate race. Precinct officers are encouraged to attend. In addition to business and planning items, the group will celebrate Logan County Democrats with birthdays in February. 

    February 10, 2012

  • Eloise Rees.jpg Edmond loses wealth of knowledge with death of resident

    The death of longtime Edmond resident Eloise Rodkey Rees goes with the saying that with every death, you lose a library.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Polling places: Where to vote

    February 10, 2012

  • Humphreys seeks Senate seat

    Fearing that the liberties of Oklahomans are slipping away, Republican Chris Humphreys said he hopes to win the state Senate District 20 primary race set for Tuesday.

    February 10, 2012

  • Unwritten contracts hard to prove

    Q: Can an agreement be enforced if it is not in writing?
    A: Although it is generally advisable to put every agreement in writing, most agreements can be enforced without written evidence of the deal. Both oral and written contracts can, in the right circumstances, bind the parties to perform.

    February 10, 2012