Robotics Whiz Kid is a Leader for the Next Generation

Name: Aaron Bholé

Grade: 12th Grade

School: Riverwood International Charter School

Accomplishment:  Captain of Riverwood’s RoboRaiders Robotics Team. Aaron Bholé worked with Sandy Springs Education Force to make the recent at Riverwood a success.

Key to Awesomeness:

Aaron believes, “This next generation is truly the future of America, and robotics is a burgeoning field that will help this generation succeed economically and intellectually.”

He started working on bringing the “Robotics Generation” exhibit to Riverwood, this summer. The goal of the exhibit was to increase student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.

“Along with bringing a student perspective to planning, I spoke at both the VIP night and the Family Night. I discussed what I have done with robotics, how robotics has affected me, and the importance of bringing robotics into our education system,” said Aaron.

“We had our first incarnation of our [robotics team] robot out on the [Riverwood] field being controlled by younger students. It was a wonderful experience watching the joy that robotics brings to these student's faces,” Aaron said.

The RoboRaiders robotics team competes annually in the FIRST Tech Challenge, which releases a new game every year with scored challenges for each robot to complete.  “Our objective is to build a robot that can compete in this game while fitting within certain constraints. The robot is 18"x18"x18" and gets pretty complex,” explained Aaron. “Additionally, our programmer Andrew Whipple has to get the robot to perform intricate tasks without any driver control."

Aaron was on the 2009 RoboRaiders team that won the FIRST Tech World Championship. “I enjoy the challenge of building the robot. We see a problem, we create a solution, and we have to continually improve the solution. Watching the final robot perform makes me proud as I know that all the hours of hard work have paid off,” He said.

Other Activities

Outside of robotics, Aaron is vice president of the Senior Class, Beta Club president, treasurer of the Advanced Men’s Chorus and President of the Future Business Leaders of America.

 “I enjoy all of my activities, but FBLA is my favorite. I am able to gain leadership experience and business knowledge that is applicable to the real world,” said Aaron. “This year, I am both Regional and Local School president as well as a state officer for our 28,000 member Georgia chapter, ” he added.

In sports, he started a cricket club team about two years ago. “A couple of my friends and I got together and formed a "club" Cricket Team at Riverwood. We currently have around 20 members, so we are able to play games among Riverwood Students,” said Aaron, who is the wicket keeper, similar to the catcher in baseball.

“Cricket allows people from all backgrounds and walks of life to meet for a friendly game. There are Indians, Pakistanis, English, Australians, and Bangladeshis on the cricket team, and we learn a lot about foreign cultures when we get on the pitch,” Aaron said.  

He is a member of Riverwood’s International Baccalaureate Program and will graduate in May will an international diploma and a Seal of Distinction from the International Studies Magnet. He plans on double majoring in Biology and International Affairs.

“After volunteering at Northside Hospital, interning at Resurgens Orthopedics, and performing colorectal cancer research at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, I know that I have a future in the Medical Profession. Right now I am in the middle of the college application process, but I want to keep my fingers crossed for Brown University.”