Faculty, staff and students from Pennsylvania College of Technology's School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies – with additional support from departments across campus – hosted more than 350 high school students during the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge State Robotics Championship in the Field House on Saturday. Penn College's academic programs and facilities dovetailed perfectly with the incredible display of teamwork, ingenuity and knowledge throughout the day, from which qualifying teams will advance to April's national competition in St. Louis.
– Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/editor-One College Avenue,
and Scott D. Neuhard, assistant professor of electronics
Gary E. McQuay, project manager for the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center (second from left), serves as a judge for Star Techs, representing Logan County Schools in West Virginia.
The machine of the Blitzerbots team from Elizabethtown knocks over a stack of baskets and balls during a practice round.
To carry off one of the baskets, scoop up another ...
... and head to the ramp for the “end game.”
Members of the Landroids team from the Livingston Robotics Club in Livingston, N.J., chat while awaiting technical inspection.
Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour welcomes the crowd of 350 students and their supporters with notes of encouragement.
Supporters of the Robo Warriors from Mifflin County High School show their spirit.
Jeff L. Rankinen, associate professor of electronics (center), checks the height to which a team lifted its basket following a close match.
Anne K. Soucy, assistant dean of construction and design technologies, compares notes with fellow judges (including Elizabeth A. Biddle, K-12 project manager, obstructed from view).
The Wildcat makes pals with members of Watt’s Up, a team from the Say Watt Robotics Club of Edison, N.J.
Tech Heroes, of George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in Philadelphia, team up with Robo Warriors during a qualifying match.
A team anticipates the results of an obvious nail-biter.
The robot of Gear Up from Edison High School in Philadelphia pushes a bowling ball up its ramp.
Drivers for Say Watt Robotics of Edison, N.J., talk strategy during a match.
A robot hoists a basket into the air.
The robot of the Colts of Cloverleaf Local Schools in Lodi, Ohio, lifts a basket as drivers from the Nano Gurus of Morris Plains, N.Y., watch.
Drivers from Ozone, of the Oxford (Pa.) Robotics Club, take part in a match.
The bot belonging to the RoboSpartan Robotics, of New Hartford, N.Y., brings a basket up the ramp to join a bowling ball it already delivered.
Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of drafting and computer-aided design (second from left), takes notes while judging the “Robodancers.”
Rebecca Albert and Edward J. Almasy, instructor of electronics, act as judges for the Robo Warriors, a team hailing from Mifflin County High School in Lewistown.
Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour chats with Bill Mack, assistant dean of the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies and “clerk of the works” for Saturday's event.
Students from Penn College’s IEEE chapter were among three campus organizations selling food.
Four robots scramble under the control of their drivers during an elimination round.
Referees confer with team representatives prior to final matches.
A small portion of the army of volunteers for the event are recognized.
The conquering Colts team from Cloverleaf Schools in Ohio takes its place as event winners.
– Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/editor-One College Avenue,
and Scott D. Neuhard, assistant professor of electronics
Gary E. McQuay, project manager for the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center (second from left), serves as a judge for Star Techs, representing Logan County Schools in West Virginia.
The machine of the Blitzerbots team from Elizabethtown knocks over a stack of baskets and balls during a practice round.
To carry off one of the baskets, scoop up another ...
... and head to the ramp for the “end game.”
Members of the Landroids team from the Livingston Robotics Club in Livingston, N.J., chat while awaiting technical inspection.
Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour welcomes the crowd of 350 students and their supporters with notes of encouragement.
Supporters of the Robo Warriors from Mifflin County High School show their spirit.
Jeff L. Rankinen, associate professor of electronics (center), checks the height to which a team lifted its basket following a close match.
Anne K. Soucy, assistant dean of construction and design technologies, compares notes with fellow judges (including Elizabeth A. Biddle, K-12 project manager, obstructed from view).
The Wildcat makes pals with members of Watt’s Up, a team from the Say Watt Robotics Club of Edison, N.J.
Tech Heroes, of George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in Philadelphia, team up with Robo Warriors during a qualifying match.
A team anticipates the results of an obvious nail-biter.
The robot of Gear Up from Edison High School in Philadelphia pushes a bowling ball up its ramp.
Drivers for Say Watt Robotics of Edison, N.J., talk strategy during a match.
A robot hoists a basket into the air.
The robot of the Colts of Cloverleaf Local Schools in Lodi, Ohio, lifts a basket as drivers from the Nano Gurus of Morris Plains, N.Y., watch.
Drivers from Ozone, of the Oxford (Pa.) Robotics Club, take part in a match.
The bot belonging to the RoboSpartan Robotics, of New Hartford, N.Y., brings a basket up the ramp to join a bowling ball it already delivered.
Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of drafting and computer-aided design (second from left), takes notes while judging the “Robodancers.”
Rebecca Albert and Edward J. Almasy, instructor of electronics, act as judges for the Robo Warriors, a team hailing from Mifflin County High School in Lewistown.
Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour chats with Bill Mack, assistant dean of the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies and “clerk of the works” for Saturday's event.
Students from Penn College’s IEEE chapter were among three campus organizations selling food.
Four robots scramble under the control of their drivers during an elimination round.
Referees confer with team representatives prior to final matches.
A small portion of the army of volunteers for the event are recognized.
The conquering Colts team from Cloverleaf Schools in Ohio takes its place as event winners.