Venango team is Robo-tops at Robobots

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

April 4, 2009

Anonymous The Meadville Tribune Sat Apr 04, 2009, 09:12 PM EDT

By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

“Get him! Push him! Hold him!” teammates yelled as Chris Monkern feverishly worked the controller.

Monkern, the driver for the VTC-PM team, maneuvered the robot Anubus to smash and hold Mars, a robot from Cambridge Springs High School’s Team PHEAR, during the finals of the third annual Robobots competition Saturday in Meadville.

Monkern and his VTC-PM teammates from the Venango Technology Center in Oil City came out the winners in the daylong tournament held at Meadville Area Senior High School.

“It was tough to do,” said Monkern, a junior at the school. “They were very fast, but we had a little more torque and were able to push them.”

Robobots, coordinated by the northwestern Pennsylvania chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, is a hands-on robot building initiative. Designed to spark high school student interest in technical careers, 28 teams from 14 schools in the region built 15-pound robots to do battle in an arena.

Students are exposed to the practical applications of math, science, engineering and manufacturing skills while building the robots.

“It’s the best experience I’ve ever had,” said Brittany Clouner, a senior on VTC-PM. “It was a lot of fun.”

Asked what she liked best about it, both Clouner and fellow female teammate Heaven Hebets said changing people’s perceptions about women in technical fields like engineering.

“People thinking that girls can’t do it,” they said in unison.

Hebets, also a senior, said she plans to study electrical engineering this fall at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

“It was a lot of fun for the kids,” said Tim Lyons, an instructor at VTC and the team’s primary adviser. “It was a wonderful day.”

Saturday’s competition attracted more than 1,300 spectators to MASH, impressing many of those in the crowd.

“We thought we’d come down and see what’s going on,” said Amy Fuller, who was with her daughter, Samantha, 9. “I’m amazed at all the robots and the amount of work the kids put into it.”

“It’s really cool,” said Samantha. “I like to see the sparks (fly).”

Brian Deane, who coordinated the event for the northwestern Pennsylvania chapter of the NTMA, was pleased with the event and the size of the crowd.

“We had drama in the matches,” he said. “It’s as good as expected.”

The NTMA has been using the Robobots program to build interest among high school students in technical and manufacturing careers because of a potential shortage of workers.

Manufacturers both here and nationally say an aging work force will be retiring over the next 10 years and they’ll need mechanical and electrical engineers, computer engineers, machinists, tool and die makers, electricians and welders.

The local NTMA chapter estimates as many as 250 workers are going to be needed in the area annually for the next few years. That’s because of the need to replace current workers who will be retiring while also expanding their businesses and integrating new technology into their firms.

Nationwide, the National Tooling and Machining Association estimates a current need for about 35,000 skilled workers.

Manufacturing is important to Crawford County since there is a heavier reliance on it here than in other parts of Pennsylvania and the country. About 20 percent of the jobs in the county are related to manufacturing, compared to 12 percent for the state and 11 percent nationally.

Many of the area’s tooling and machining shops are suppliers of tools, equipment and parts to major manufacturers.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

Text Only

Local News

Budget, aesthetics a balancing act at Armory
The next time there’s a moment or two to spare for quiet contemplation, pause in the vicinity of the City of Meadville’s picturesque Diamond Park. Let your eyes rest on Parkside Commons, the meticulously refurbished structure at the northeast end of the park that was once known as “the old junior high.” Make a point of focusing on the windows.

February 12, 2012
Former rockers Drywater enjoying glow from album's rebirth
It’s funny how perceptions can differ from one person to the next; how what sparkles in one set of eyes can appear tarnished in another.

February 11, 2012
Edinboro site eyed for retirement homes
About two years after halting expansion plans into the Conneaut Lake area, Meadville-based Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community now is looking to expand north into Erie County, possibly sometime in 2013.

February 10, 2012
Langley voted in as Meadville City Council's new member
“Pleased” is the word that best describes Bob Langley’s response to the news that he had been selected to fill Meadville City Council’s vacant seat.

February 10, 2012
French Creek conservation group to benefit from environmentalist's talk
When one of the world’s best known environmentalists, the author and activist Bill McKibben, speaks next week at Allegheny College, his audience will likely be putting some money where its heart is — right into French Creek.

February 10, 2012
Vernon Police chief suspects 'human interaction' in Sunday fire
An investigation is continuing into a weekend fire that destroyed a historic structure in Vernon Township, and Vernon police are urging anyone with information to give them a call.

February 10, 2012
Walker hired to fill Meadville's newest administrative position
The City of Meadville’s soon-to-be-newest administrator is a familiar name in the area and familiar with the city.

February 9, 2012
Edinboro protest planned against proposed state budget cuts
If you’re a student or faculty member at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, don’t be surprised if Trevor Belz, a sophomore from Saegertown, shares some strong opinions with you in the next few days — and urges your attendance at a campuswide protest planned for Tuesday.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Local legislators: Corbett budget off to a good start
Elected officials representing Crawford County in Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives are gearing up for what looks like a lengthy budget process.

February 8, 2012
Crawford Central's Heller says new budget plan hobbles school districts
Area educators haven’t had a lot of time to mull over the implications of the budget proposal presented Tuesday to a joint meeting of Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.

February 8, 2012
More Local News Headlines

A clean-energy plan to use solar energy in eastern Pennsylvania has been met with resistance, even by environmental groups. Do you think solar energy has a future as a valuable energy source in Pennsylvania?

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Venango team is Robo-tops at Robobots

A clean-energy plan to use solar energy in eastern Pennsylvania has been met with resistance, even by environmental groups. Do you think solar energy has a future as a valuable energy source in Pennsylvania?

Site Map

Contact Us