City robotics team competes for first time

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A group of Russellville students will make school history today as they take part in their first Robotics competition.
A group of 30 students will travel to Calhoun Community College to participate in a regional Robotics competition against several schools, mostly from the Huntsville-Decatur area.
The group held a parent/sponsor night Thursday.
"This is a program that really promotes problem solving," said Russellville Middle School science teacher and Robotics sponsor Lee Brownell.
"They have to come up with ideas on how to build the robot, how to make it work and how to make any repairs when it's needed. My job is to stay back and let them learn."
The program is open to any student. This year's team includes fifth through tenth graders and is divided almost evenly between boys and girls.
Russellville sixth grader Bernie Moussad said he enjoys the program because he has to learn.
"There's no instructions," he said. "We just have to do it for ourselves. I think that helps you learn how to do things."
The group built their robot, Sallie, over the past few months and has taken it for one demonstration at the mall.
Today's competition will be the first for the program.
"You just have to hope it works," Duncan McDowell said.
The students use many math and science principles for the class projects, but it also includes web site design, marketing and educating.
"This is something our students really need," said Superintendent Don Cox.
"These are the types of programs that schools need in today's times to prepare students for the future."