4-H TEAM ROCK competed March 5-6 in Traverse City at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in Michigan robotic competition with the robot (TEAM ROCK 2000) that they created. The team was eliminated in the quarter finals, but was honored with the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors. An Allegan County community-based 4-H group, the team is made up of 18 members who are high school students from several different schools and home-school youth.
The team members are led by administrative 4-H leader Sue Napier and mentor leaders and helpers Ben Napier, Celia Dykstra, Denise Price and Shera VanGoor with much support from parents. With the professional knowledge of the team of Josh Schaeffer of Electrocal Inc. and 4-H leader Jerry Williams of Williams Tooling and Manufacturing Inc. who opened up his shop at night to the team, the 4-H’ers were able to be a part of the process of designing, prototyping, machining and building. Mr. Williams was nominated for a Woodie Flowers Award, which celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design.
Support Team ROCK as they compete at West Michigan FIRST Robotics District Competition March 19–20 at Grand Valley State University, a free event to the public. I wish this 4-H club good luck in qualifying in this second attempt for the Michigan FIRST Robotics Competition State Championship.
4-H TEAM ROCK is part of SET (4-H Science, Engineering and Technology).
