Rhode Island Robotics Team Competes In World Championship

A team of high schoolers from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts finished in the top five at this year's Robotics FIRST World Championship in Detroit in late April, taking home fourth place. The team of 38 students is part of Aquidneck Island Robotics.

The students were honored at the Rhode Island state house on Wednesday by by Representative Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown).

"The accomplishments of the students on this team is a great testament to the exciting possibilities of diving deep into STEM learning. They worked very hard as a team and developed their own personal skills while having a great time. They should be very proud of their success. They serve as a great example of the potential that exists for students who develop their interest in the STEM fields," Rep. Cortvriend said.

The studets had their most successful year in the team's decade-long history, taking home first place in thee regional New England competitions and placing ninth out of 210 in the New England district of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, as well as other special awards.

The students built their 125-pound robot in only six weeks, working with their mentors to design, build and program it themselves, getting ready for the challenge called "Destination Deep Space." The robot is controlled by the students and can pick up, load and seal balls into "spaceship hatches," as well as climb up a one-and-a-half foot step.

In just six weeks, the students worked with professional mentors to design, build, program and practice using a robot to compete in a challenge titled “Destination Deep Space.” Their 125-pound robot, which is controlled remotely by the students, quickly retrieves, loads and seals balls into the hatches of “spaceships” and efficiently climbs a 1½-foot step.

The world championship was held from April 25 to 27 in Detroit, where the team won fourth place.

The students involved are:

Portsmouth

• Anthony Abuisi
• Freddy Collins
• Spencer Dellenbaugh
• Wren Hager
• Tom Hilmer
• Joey Hook
• Nathan Janssen
• Sami Jefferds
• Jacob Kimes
• Tim Lopes
• Garen Seibert
• Charlie Silveria
• Aislinn Sullivan
• Seamus Sullivan
• Rick Blight
• Mark Seidman
• Tim Sieben

Middletown

• Tom Dolan
• Austin Estrella
• Kim Lesieur

Newport

• Alexander Gaines
• Noah Manuel
• J. Rick Casey
• Paige Manuel
• Joseph Menassa
• Elizabeth Stevens

Jamestown

• Ella Junge
• Eva Junge

South Kingstown: Emilia Delemontex

North Kingstown: Michael DeSousa

East Greenwich: Ben Rosenberg

Warwick: Isabella Heffernan

Cranston: Gregory Sanford

Providence: Lucy Bosch

Southeast Massachusetts

• Jack Viveiros, Fall River
• Ben Jope, East Freetown
• Jacob Jope, East Freetown
• Gary Gabriel, Westport
• Brad Mello, Waltham