Titanium Titans successful at robotics competition
Career growth in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math – also known as STEM – is outpacing all other fields, according to the U.S. Department of Education. To help prepare students for success in these areas, Peters Township School District joined with the Titanium Titans Robotics team to host a FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Scrimmage and Technology Career Fair at the Peters Township Middle School in December.
The “titans” of technology are a group of middle school students supported by the township’s Creative Learning Collaborative. The goal of the program is to introduce young people to real-world engineering challenges through the fun and excitement of building robots to play a sophisticated sports-like game.
The first event of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the scrimmage attracted 10 robotics teams from Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia for friendly pre-season competition. Hundreds of local spectators also had the opportunity to hear guest speaker Steve Reed, senior engineer at Westinghouse, who shared insights into what an engineer really does and engaged the questions of a packed student audience.
“Peters Township School District is proud to create new partnerships with Titanium Titans Robotics and FIRST. This event has really opened the door to the world of FIRST and personally, I had no idea how fun robots could be. We’re excited to explore starting our own FTC team,” said Peters Township Middle School Principal Adam Sikorski.
As part of the Technology Career Fair, colleges and local area technology companies provided information on STEM career paths for eager students. This spring, the district is also bringing the Finch Robots from the Peters Township Public Library into the middle school classrooms and is exploring partnerships with local universities to bring even more STEM opportunities to the students.
“All of this is happening because of the partnerships and relationships built at this event,” Sikorski said.
On Jan. 24, five FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams sponsored by Titanium Titans Robotics competed at the Southwestern Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition at Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel. Although four of the teams were in their first year of competition, they all played this year’s FTC game, Cascade Effect, extraordinarily well and were ranked 14th, 15th and 16th place among the 24 teams competing at the event. FTC team #8509 Steel Serpents garnered a second place win and advanced to the FTC PA State Competition at Millersville University on Feb. 28. The impressive accomplishments of local FTC teams at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Competition, as well as the FTC Scrimmage and Technology Career Fair, are just the beginning of an increased focus on technology and STEM learning in Peters Township.
Corporate sponsors of Titanium Titans Robotics Teams are developing tomorrow’s technology innovators and workforce. FTC sponsors who supported teams financially and with non-monetary facilities include ANSYS, ALCOA, AXA Advisors, The PROUD Company, Corporate Technology Group, OLSEN Industries, GRAU & Associates, iBS, Union Electric Steel, McMurray Electric, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Patriot Pest Control, Jean McFadden, The Venetia Heritage Society, The Peters Township Public Library and CAL U Center for Innovation. FRC Titanium Titans #4467 sponsors include NASA, AETHON Co., EQUIPCO, COMCAST, BALTEC, ATI Flat Rolled Products, CLARK HILL ASSOC – Allen Lopus, Chapman Corporation, MDDX, Perryman Co., Wash County Manufacturers Association, ACCUTREX Products, 84 Lumber and Range Resources.
To become a sponsor or for more about Titanium Titans Robotics, visit www.titaniumtitans.org. To learn more about USFIRST or FTC and FRC robotics competitions, visit www.usfirst.org. Find out how to participate on a FIRST Tech Challenge team at www.creativelearning-PT.org.