Huntington, NY - February 9th, 2016 - Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D. was thrilled to join Huntington Robotics team 5016 at their recent meeting on Wednesday, where he had the opportunity to see firsthand what these tech savvy students have been working on.
The student-run club which formed in September of 2013 offers members a place where they can foster their creativity and skills in a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) focused environment through the building and design of robotics.
By combining technological skills with a special emphasis on leadership, teamwork and business principles, these students gain insight into the practical applications of their work and develop professional knowledge for success. Whether students are interested in mechanics, programming, marketing, finance, or safety, there is something for everyone.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with the students running Huntington Robotics Team 5016. They are extraordinarily well-organized, passionate, and knowledgeable.” said Legislator Spencer. “The season is off to a great start and I am excited to see what they come up with next.”.
Legislator Spencer tests the robot that the team entered into last year’s “FIRST” Competition.
Each year Huntington Robotics proudly participates in the FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - Robotics Competition. Referred to as the “varsity sport for the mind”, the competition challenges students and their adult mentors to work together to solve a common problem.
During the six week build period, teams must design and construct a robot which can play a sophisticated field game, using standard parts and rules set forth by FIRST. Participation in the FIRST competitions allows students to become eligible for over $22 million in scholarships across 900 individual opportunities of varying payment amounts from nearly 200 scholarship providers.
During their first season, the group represented Huntington at the FIRST School Business Partnerships of Long Island Regional Competition at Hofstra University, at which, the team captured the Rookie of the Year and the Highest Rookie Seed Award. The club then went on to qualify to compete in the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri where they took home the GMA Industrial Design Award!
The team is currently in the height of their build season for this year’s competitions which begin March 10th and run through April 30th. If you would like to support their efforts, the team continues to look for mentors as well as community sponsors. For more information about their mission and work, visit www.team5016.com.