Huntington's Robotics Club Builds up STEAM

This student-run club at Huntington High School is the place to be for students to foster their creativity and skills by building and designing robotics.

Members of Huntington Robotics team 5016 combine technical skills with leadership, teamwork and business principles, to make their creations. The club is considered a STEAM-focused environment (STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math.)

Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D. had the opportunity to see just how tech-savvy these students are at the club’s recent meeting last Wednesday. He was seriously impressed.

“[The Students] are extraordinarily well-organized, passionate, and knowledgeable.” Spencer said in a press release. “The season is off to a great start and I am excited to see what they come up with next”.

Huntington Robotics participates in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition each year. The competition, referred to as the “varsity sport for the mind,” challenges students and their adult mentors to work together to solve a common problem.

During the competition, the teams must design and construct a robot that can play a sophisticated field game, using standard parts and rules set forth by FIRST during the six week build period. The team is now in the height of the build season for this year’s competition, which will take place from March 10 to April 30.

Students who participate in the FIRST competitions can become eligible for the approximately $22 million in scholarships.

The club, formed in September of 2013, was named Rookie of the Year and received the Highest Rookie Seed Award during their first season at the FIRST School Business Partnerships of Long Island Regional Competition at Hofstra University. The club went on to compete in the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where they took home the GMA Industrial Design Award.

The team continues to look for mentors as well as community sponsors. To learn how to support the team’s efforts, mission and work, visit http://team5016.com/.

Images via Office of Legislator Spencer:

1. Students in the Robotics Club along with Advisor Brian Reynolds, show their creation to Superintendent James Polansky, Huntington High School Principal Brendan Cusack, and Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D.
2. Legislator Spencer tests the robot that the team entered into last year’s “FIRST” Competition.