Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Ontonagon Robotics Coach Glenn Beck explained to the Ontonagon Area Board of Education Monday that the team, in its first year, has qualified for the World Championship Robotics competition in St Louis Missouri April 28-29. The five member team of four boys and one girl will leave April 26, if the entry goal of $5,000 is reached. Beck told the board the goal is within reach at this time.
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon - The fledging Ontonagon Area High School Robotics team has qualified to compete in the World Robotics competition in St. Louis Missouri.
Team coaches and members attended the Ontonagon Area Board of Education meeting Monday to explain funding efforts are now underway and to obtain permission for competing team members for the overnight trip.
The team qualified for the World Championships by its performance at State in Saginaw, April 12-15. Coach Glen Beck told the board that the team has "exceeded all expectations" for its first year of competition and said the group is trying to raise $5,000 by Sunday. Beck said the formation of a team was possible with a grant from the Department of Education and company grants.
The team is raising funds for the tournament entry fee. Presently a robotics team in Milwaukee, with the help of Jeanne Hegg in Ontonagon, has donated $530 toward the entry fee and Syls Restaurant will donate 25 percent of its earning on Saturday Pizza night to the team. The team is also receiving funds through the Go Fund Me Page and other individual donations.
The team is traveling south April 26-29, with the finals on the 29th, Beck said. Jon Ollila, who serves as a pit boss for the team, said the competition is "very fast paced... unique... and the Ontonagon team is tough." He said the tower man, student Ryzard Olazewski has never dropped a gear, which is amazing.
"The competition is fast paced and these kids work so hard with no complaints. How they represent the school is unbelievable," Ollila added. He explained how schools team up and work together, while Beck noted that many colleges offer scholarships for high school students involved in robotics, praising the several schools which have helped Ontonagon get started in the program.
The Board approved the overnight stay and praised Beck, Ollila, his wife Patti Ollila who is a mentor to the team, and the students involved, Matt Niemi,
Bradley Myhren, Ryzard Olszewski, Abby Ollila, Patti Ollila and Micah Blake.
