TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Northwest Education Services (North Ed) Career Tech students took home two bronze awards, two silvers and a nomination for the prestigious Honda Innovation Award following a trip to Marion, Ohio for the 40th annual National Robotics Challenge (NRC) on April 16-18.
The NRC is the longest running competition of its kind. It started in 1986 as a robotics and engineering challenge organized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This year, more than 500 robots were entered in the NRC, with nearly 1,500 participants, representing more than 100 schools from 17 states.
Career Tech’s Engineering Academy and Robotics & Automation programs sent about 50 junior and senior students to compete at this year’s event.
Silver Award: Sumo Robot & Honda Innovation Nomination
A team of Engineering Academy seniors took home the silver award in the Sumo Robot category and was nominated for the Honda Innovation Award. Students on this team include:
Oliver Baylie, Greespire High School
Walker Dreffs, Traverse City Central High School
Audrey Nicholson, Elk Rapids High School
Giona Oppermann, Elk Rapids High School
Luke Schlegel, Traverse City Central High School
Andrew Surprenant, Traverse City Central High School
In the Sumo Robot contest, students build a self-propelled, autonomous, sensing robot designed to force another Sumo Robot outside of a ring.
The coveted Honda Innovation Award is selected through a judging panel of Honda engineers and recognizes the team with the most creative and innovative design that embodies Honda’s values. Teams from each category are nominated, with Engineering Academy’s team earning that nomination in the Sumo Bot category.
Silver Award: Additive Manufacturing Contest
Participants in the Additive Manufacturing Contest evaluate 3D-printed structures. Teams research, plan and 3D print structures that are tested to determine their ability to hold the greatest load. The contest focuses on additive manufacturing design with strict requirements on form, fit and function of compact and intricate designs.
A junior in Career Tech’s Robotics & Automation program took home the silver award in this category.
Preston Halverson, Traverse City West Senior High School
Bronze Award: Micromouse Contest
A duo of juniors took home the bronze award in the Micromouse category, in which contestants design and build a small self-contained robot (Mouse) to negotiate a right/left turn maze in the shortest time possible. Students on this team were:
Kodiak Abfalter, Traverse City West Senior High School
Caden Ardan, Grand Traverse Academy
Bronze Award: Box Bot Contest
In the Box Bot contest, teams design, construct, program and operate a battery-powered robot for use in a package delivery simulation. This team of juniors earned a bronze award for their work:
Porter Martin, Glen Lake High School
Ian Mitchel, Kingsley High School
Ethan Norris, Grand Traverse Academy
“We had a tremendous amount of student growth in terms of technical ability, maturity and leadership,” said Michael George, Engineering Academy instructor. “It was great to see students using the skills they learn in class, turning theoretical knowledge into practical applications in the real world, and leaning on each other and the teamwork skills they’ve developed.”
Engineering Academy is an award-winning program for high school juniors and seniors at North Ed Career Tech that integrates courses in engineering, English, economics, mathematics and science around the themes of robotics and manufacturing. Students interested in learning more about the program and its application process may contact instructor Michael George at mgeorge@NorthwestEd.org or 231.922.7845.
Robotics & Automation offers students the opportunity to dive into modern manufacturing and the technology that powers industry and engineering. Students learn to integrate mechanical, electrical and software components, gaining practice experience through hands-on learning with CAD, CNC machining, rapid prototyping, fluid power and electrical circuits. For more information about the program, contact instructor Tim Vander Meulen at tvandermeulen@NorthwestEd.org or 231.922.6596.
North Ed Career Tech offers more than 20 programs to high school juniors and seniors from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. Students are educated in career and technical fields, offering hands-on practical experiences, job shadowing, career exploration and early college opportunities, along with rigorous academic integration. Visit our website for more information about North Ed Career Tech.
Members of the Sumo Robot team stand with their robot at the National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio. This team of Engineering Academy seniors won the silver medal and a nomination for the prestigious Honda Innovation Award. From left, front row: Audrey Nicholson, Elk Rapids High School; Giona Oppermann, Elk Rapids High School; and Oliver Baylie, Greespire High School. Back row: Luke Schlegel, Traverse City Central High School; Andrew Surprenant, Traverse City Central High School; and Walker Dreffs, Traverse City Central High School.
Above: Students from Northwest Education Services (North Ed) Career Tech work on their robots during the National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio.
Below: North Ed Career Tech sent about 50 students to the National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio, with some teams taking home bronze and silver awards.
