Almost all after-school activities have been in existence since the school opened. It is very rare that a team exceeds in high places after their first year in existence. MHS Robotics Club, formed in August, was informed they were going to State competition at Missouri University of Science & Technology at Rolla after successfully placing enough points within their last competition. 

Marion Dennis, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, did not expect the Robotics Club would be competing in State for the first time within its first year of existence. 

“It was full of surprise and excitement,” Dennis said. “I was surprised that we made it to State even though we had a rookie team and from the fact that we’ve only been a program just within one year.”

Dennis said the club was put together by Rockwood’s gifted program, and Eureka High School was originally the only school that had it. This year, however, all four Rockwood high schools have a Robotics Club available.

 “I wanted to know more about the club,” Dennis said. “Since I am a FACS teacher and I don’t know much about engineering, I had to do a lot of learning and gain a lot of experience, just like the students who joined the club, to know what this club was like and exactly what I needed to do to make this club successful.” 

Dennis said she and the students received help from engineering experts from local businesses in learning the mechanics of engineering and robotics. 

“Our first mentor was from Boeing,” Dennis said. “However, due to traffic, he wasn’t able to meet with the group until 5:15 p.m. when the club ends the day at 5:30 p.m. Our second mentor, Mr. Ford, is a retired architectural drafter. He was more available to us thanks to him having a faster route to Marquette although he drives from Arnold, Missouri, twice a week.”

 “My job is to help furnish the room, supervise and furnish myself into a mentor so I can learn more about the program,” Dennis said.

In Robotics Club, there are two teams, each having four main positions: programmer, documenter, builder/electrician, and marketer.

The programmer is in charge of the computer science behind each project, making sure that each program works and is functioning correctly. The documenter is in charge of collecting and analyzing data so if there are any problems or successful tests and tasks done, they will be recorded for future reference. The electrician/builder is in charge of getting the robot or design built and electronically working properly as each electrical part is operating and working. The marketer is in charge of the marketing for the robot or design. They are in charge of making sure every necessary part is requested and they organize the supply of what parts are needed for each project.  Lastly, there is also a driver. A driver is in charge of the movement and making sure the project does its function as the driver operates and controls it.

Dennis said State entails a complicated process. It begins with three preliminary levels with each person being interviewed by a judge. Next, a hardware and software inspection ensures that no dangerous or forbidden parts are being used. During a following waiting period, each member is randomly assigned into a group of people from other schools.

“Ultimately there are around 4 to 5 matches within states with points being able to be earned for each completed task and good character,” Dennis said. “The school with the greatest number of points earned and least amount of penalties wins.”

There are two groups of four that create and design projects. The first group is the “Gluons” and the second group is the “Baryons.”

Chris Ryan, sophomore, is a builder/electrician and a driver for the “Gluons” group.

“I love technology,” Ryan said. “I joined around September and I just absolutely love working with technology and resources. I love it. I’m the guy for it.”

Ryan said his experience was definitely interesting even though he and the club had no previous robotics experience. 

“We had to start from scratch and learn as we went on how to succeed and compete with other teams,” Ryan said. “We got a lot of help from other Rockwood schools.”

Ryan said when it comes to being successful in Robotics Club, practice makes perfect.

“The biggest thing is to keep practicing,” Ryan said. “You’ve got to keep working and, as you work, you get better.”

James Avery, sophomore, is a secondary leader for the “Gluons.” He is a driver, a builder, and has partial programming skills.

“I actually joined the club and the ‘Gluons’ in early October,” Avery said. “Although I joined a little late, I’m still doing great with the club. We experienced a lot of hardship.”

Avery said that, originally, the entire Robotics Club was one team, and then they had to divide into two separate groups.

“We were originally one team,” Avery said. “Because we were getting a few more people we had to split into the two groups of four.”

When the first two competitions rolled around, Avery said they were failures compared to their success now of going to State.

“Our first competition was an absolute disaster,” Avery. “We had to sit out on four of the five matches due to mistakes made and conducted. Our second competition we almost won, but we got heavily penalized due to breaking some of the complex rules of the matches and driving rules.”

After the first two competitions, the biggest challenge there was keeping everyone involved still involved.

“Our biggest challenge, afterwards, was keeping everyone on task,” Avery said. “Everyone wanted to leave because the first two competitions were disasters. But, after meeting with Chris Ryan, he and I decided to stay and wanted to inform everyone else involved to stay because we knew that we could still do this.”     

Chris Dennis, junior, is also a member of the Robotics Club. He is a builder/electrician as well as a coach for the “Baryons” group.

“I like the club,” Chris Dennis said. “This is my club’s first year, but, since the beginning, I attended the Eureka robotics club, since that was the only high school with the club.”

Chris Dennis said he enjoys the club because he has the interest and motivation to excel in the club.

“I’m creative with my hands,” Chris Dennis said. “I am also considering engineering and architecture as a career.”

Going to State was a very exciting moment for Chris Dennis as he and the club realized they reached the top the first year.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Chris Dennis said.

The club meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from the end of school until 5:30 p.m. However, before State arrives, the club will meet a little more to be ultimately prepared.

Chris Dennis said probably the biggest challenge for the Robotics Club this year was simply getting together.

“Getting the team working together was the toughest challenge,” Chris Dennis said. “It’s also just getting communication together and getting the work done to be the biggest obstacles to accomplish.”