Rainbow Schools participate in the 2015 FIRST Robotics Competition

Students from three Rainbow secondary schools have finished building their robots and are getting ready to put them into action at the FIRST Robotics Competition.  Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School (Team 4069) will participate in the Greater Toronto Central Regional event at Ryerson University from March 5 to 7, 2015. Lasalle Secondary School (Team 5191) and Lively District Secondary School (Team 4968) will join Lo-Ellen Park at the North Bay Regional Event at Nipissing University from March 26 to 28, 2015.

The Lo-Ellen Robotics Team 4069 will compete to qualify for the World Championships in April in St. Louis, Missouri for the fourth consecutive year. In 2012, the team received the Rookie All-Star Award, Co-opertition Award, Highest Rookie Seed Award and Rookie Inspiration Award. In 2013, they captured the Gold Medal, Gracious Professionalism Award and the Entrepreneurship Award.

The mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.

This year’s robo-sport is Recycle Rush. Two alliances of three teams will compete simultaneously to score points by stacking totes on platforms. Stacks are to be capped with recycling containers, and the litter (represented by pool noodles) properly disposed in designated locations.
 
“The FIRST Robotics Competition is a profound example of collaborative efforts between students, teachers and mentors,” said Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “I extend best wishes to all participants as they put their science, technology and engineering skills to the test in a fun and creative way. Working cooperatively on innovative projects is the foundation for 21st century learning.” He added: “We thank all sponsors and mentors for their generous support of this event.”

Sponsors include Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines, IONIC Engineering, Stainless Steel Technology, The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum – Sudbury Chapter, Technica Mining, Hatch, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, Pioneer Construction, Fisher Wavy, SNOLAB, TribSys, Interstate All Battery Centre, Tyler Desjardins Creative, Clickmox Solutions, Guillevin International, Nedco, Duplicators Printing & Copy Centre, Sound Financial Strategies, Topper’s Pizza, Testmark Laboratories Ltd., BESTECH, Home Depot, Dan Courville Chevrolet Ltd., Tim Hortons, Blue Moon Graphics, The New Hot 93.5, PEO Sudbury, Tulloch Engineering, M. Aniol Medicine Professional Corporation, Overhead Door, Telstar Auto Glass, Theiss Automation, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations – Glencore, TD Commercial Banking, Greater Sudbury Utilities, Bridson Automation, Jannatec, Penguin A.S.I. and Cox Family Alumni.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.

Lasalle Secondary School students, from left, Andrew Aniol and Aaron Mason, build their robot.

Members of the LANCERobotics, from left, McKean Learn and Aaron Mason, put the finishing touches on their robot.

Lo-Ellen Robotics Team members, from left, Ben Kurke, Carly Roos, teacher Dan Monti, Alain Richard, Tammy Gran and Megan Gran build their robot.

From left, mentor Hinkel Yeung, teacher Dan Monti and student Joey Lindon, of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School assemble their robot.

Lively District Secondary School’s Robohawks, from left, Adam Lepage, Ryley Ongarato, Keaton Broomhead, Darien Fairburn, Lela Hopper, Mackenzie Russell, Cody Bishop, Bailey Foy and Hannah Conlon.

Members of the Robohawks team, from left, Keaton Broomhead, teacher Chris Dinnes, Bailey Foy and Dane Lockie piece together their robot.