The FIRST Robotics Team at Northwest State Community College has been busy in preparations for their appearance in the Buckeye Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, to be held March 28-30. The overall goal of the competition, which is organized by the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH, “is to encourage students in an enlightening project to design, build, test and operate a robot which would encourage them to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” This year’s event is the 17th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. There are currently 60 teams registered throughout the region, which includes KY, MI, NY, OH and PA.
The NSCC team, the “Cryptic Cyborgs” are a local collaboration between Northwest State, North Star Bluescope Steel, Chase Brass and Copper, Swanton Welding Company and Worthington Industries. This iteration of the competition kicked off with the build season, which ran January 5 through February 19. The Buckeye Regional Competition will be held March 28-30 in Cleveland. The ‘Cyborgs’ team includes 22 area high school student participants plus adult mentors. Northwest State also has an additional 35 junior high school students on affiliated teams in Bryan, Napoleon, Edgerton and Stryker.
ABOUT DESTINATION: DEEP SPACE
According to the Glenn Research Center, “the FIRST Robotics Competition engages high school students in the fun and challenge of building a robot of a specific size, weight (Under 125 pounds) and cost (Under $5,500) in as little as six weeks. The objective of each game is different each year and is revealed at the kickoff. This year, the FIRST robotics competition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon with a space-themed robotics challenge named Destination: Deep Space.” Additional information on the FIRST Robotics Competition Buckeye Regional is available online at https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/frcbuckeye.
TURNING AN INTEREST IN TO AN EDUCATION AND CAREER PATH
Students with a passion for STEM-related classes and projects are encouraged to continue pursuing those interests as they approach graduation. Northwest State offers numerous short-term certificate and two-year degree programs that provide a direct path to good-paying career opportunities, as well as transfer opportunities for students interested in a bachelor’s degree. According to OhioMeansJobs.com, there are currently 1,165 openings for mechanical engineers in Ohio, with a median yearly salary of $62,720 (in-state.)
For more information on the Cryptic Cyborgs, please contact Jim Drewes, Executive Director of Workforce Development at Custom Training Solutions / NSCC at 419.267.1439 or jdrewes@NorthwestState.edu.
