KENT, Ohio — “Robots are cool,” Daniel de Jong, a Copley High School Sophomore said. “And who doesn't like robots?”
Over a hundred middle and high school students certainly do. And it brought them to the FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifier at Kent State University. They are competing with robots they built, to advance to the state championship.
“I'm a huge nerd and like it's math, science, engineering, technology, all things that I really like,” said de Jong.
Each match offers multiple ways to score points, like: Placing a plastic piece on a board. Launching a paper airplane. Or having the robot pull itself off the ground before time runs out. It's a unique blend of collaboration and competition.
“I see this competition. Sure it's competitive. You all, you want to win, but I really see it as a way to connect with other people,” said Joshua Spropshire, a homeschool junior.
“And then if I need help, they're going to help me. And if they need help, I can help them.”
“It takes kids from all places anybody can join, and there's so many different areas for you to participate in,” said Kirtland High School Senior, Tabitha Blankenship.
Younger students can even get involved, through the FIRST LEGO League.
Teams of 4th to 8th graders make creations, around a theme to current scientific problems. They present to a judges' panel, while showing off their programming skills.
Whether it's LEGOS, or larger robots FIRST is all about sparking STEM through unique opportunities.
“Just the fact that I'm exposed to a lot of things that most people who want major in engineering, they don't get to experience that kind of stuff until college or later,” said Santosh Akilesh Kumar, an Aurora High School Sophomore. “And the fact that I'm getting to do that, is really awesome experience.”
Tabitha Blankenship's involvement - in competing and mentoring younger students - led to an internship at Rockwell Automation.
“It just really helped me with everything that I do like. The programing has helped me with going to school with all the things that I do there and with my job and, and it got me those opportunities,” said Blankenship.
The FIRST Ohio State Championship is second weekend in March. But if you want to see more local robots battle it out, the Buckeye FIRST Robot Competition regional is at the Wolstein Center, starting March 20th.