FCS starts new robotics programs
FCS’ Jessica Hamilton said these programs are part of Mission 100, a partnership between Auburn University and the REC Foundation. The goal of Mission 100 is to start 100 new VEX-IQ elementary robotics competition teams in Alabama.
Hamilton first heard about this initiative in the spring and has been working on securing the programs for Franklin County ever since.
“It’s going to be awesome once it gets going,” she said.
Hamilton predicted the programs will be operational in the next couple of months.
To participate in Mission 100, the teachers over each school’s program had to attend a two-day training. They completed this training at the beginning of September.
Each team will also have to participate in at least one competition this school year. Every team has received a super kit to build a VEX-IQ robot with; the focus of this year’s model is a claw game piece that can move items around.
The robot and the training were all provided free of charge thanks to the greater Chattanooga Robotics Foundation, which is a nonprofit started by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Hamilton said fourth- through sixth-graders can participate in the competition, but the program will be offered to all elementary ages within the schools.
“We’re expecting to have around 40 or more students participate at each school,” she said.
While some of the schools have had a high school robotics team, this is Vina’s first year to have a robotics team at all. Now the school will have both an elementary and a high school team.
