LEONARDTOWN, Md. (April 13, 2011) — Local FIRST Robotics Team 836, The RoboBees, brought home two awards from their recent regional competition in Baltimore. The team's robot was a finalist, earning them a silver medal. The RoboBees were also awarded the regional Chairman's Award, earning them a gold medal and an opportunity to compete in the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, April 28-30. The RoboBees have the honor of being the only team in the tri-county area to win the Chairman's Award.
The team currently consists of 40 students from the tri-county area. The RoboBees are led by Mr. D. Buddenbohn, an instructor at the Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown.
The Chairman's Award celebrates a team's continuous effort to educate others about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well at the team's ability to change the culture of their community to recognize the importance of STEM activities. The award also takes into account the overall performance of the team as a member of the larger FIRST community. The Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award given at regional competitions.
The RoboBees, along with 48 other Chairman's Award winning teams from around the world, will compete for the championship version of the award at the Championship event. The team's robot, "The Pollinator," will also be making the trip to St. Louis to compete against the more than 300 other FIRST robotics teams invited to attend, including teams from Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.
The team estimates they need to raise $27,000 to participate in the upcoming championships. Citizens and businesses interested in providing financial assistance to the team can contact Ms. Rose Whitmoyer at 304-989-0522 or email drwhitmoyer@gmail.com, or email Mr. Erik Wood at ejwood0@gmail.com.
The RoboBees were created 10 years ago by Buddenbohn and a group of students from the Forrest Center. The team has grown to include students from five local high schools (Leonardtown, Great Mills, Chopticon, St. Mary's Ryken, and Patuxent), two middle schools (Leonardtown and Spring Ridge), and home schooled children. The students are mentored by professionals from local companies and government organizations. In the fall, the team and its mentors focus on education and developing relevant skills such as engineering and design.
FIRST robotics is an organization that helps students discover the excitement of science, technology, engineering and math.