DUBOIS – On Feb. 7, 4-H DEADLOX FRC Team 4484 hosted its second team social and meet-and-greet at its robot build site located on Developac Road in DuBois.
This event allowed the community, including team sponsors and supporters, an opportunity to meet the team members and see the progress of their 2014 robot. The team was honored to have Pennsylvania State Rep. Matt Gabler and Coldwell Banker Developac Realty owner, Joe Varacallo, among the attendees.
Since the social, the team has been busy in the final stages of building of its robot, finalizing marketing plans, and entering its 2014 FIRST submissions for the Chairman’s Award, Entrepreneurship Award and Dean’s List nominees. On Feb. 18, the team had to complete the final work on its robot and was required to have it bagged and tagged prior to midnight.
The team will not be permitted to make any adjustments to its robot until the first day of the Greater Pittsburgh FIRST Robotics Competition set for March 27-29 at California University of Pennsylvania. The team will meet up with more than 50 other teams to take part in a challenge known as “AERIAL ASSIST.” In addition to preparing for its competition in late- March, the team is also planning spring community outreach efforts.
FIRST, which stands “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” was founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur, Dean Kamen. Known as the Varsity Sport for the MindTM, the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.
Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. This year, FIRST estimates a total of 2,720 teams, with 68,000 high school students in grades 9 – 12, will participate in one of 54 regional events worldwide.
For the 2014 season, the team set a $10,000 fundraising goal and is 94 percent of the way towards completion. If you are interested in sponsoring 4-H DEADLOX FRC Team 4484 for the upcoming season, please contact Jana Davidson at Penn State Extension in Clearfield County at 814-765-7878 Ext. 3.
All donations are appreciated and are tax-deductible. 4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Extension for all youth between the ages of 8 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, genetic information, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status.