Школа в Расселвилле получила грант на развитие робототехники

Russellville High School has been awarded $5,000 to support its robotics program as part of a $700,000 investment by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. in youth robotics programs across the Tennessee Valley. TVA announced that Russellville High School was among 187 schools and nonprofit organizations selected to receive funding through the regional program. The awards will support robotics education for 7,431 students across TVA's seven-state service area. At Russellville High School, the funding will help students prepare for the next VEX V5 Robotics Competition game, Overtake, according to RHS teacher Cameron Kisslebaugh. The full details of the new competition game are scheduled to be announced in May during the VEX World Championship. The announcement will begin a new competition cycle in which RHS students will analyze the challenge and move through the process of designing, prototyping, testing and programming a robot while developing a strategy for competition. “With award funding, we plan to support students through every stage of that process,” Kisslebaugh said. The funding will help students build and refine a competition robot, develop game strategy and improve driver control and teamwork. It also will support engineering notebook documentation and provide additional opportunities for students to repeatedly test, evaluate and revise their designs. “Our goal is to give students the tools and experiences needed to respond to a brand-new challenge with confidence, creativity, and discipline,” Kisslebaugh said. Beyond preparing for competition, Kisslebaugh said the funding will give students greater access to hands-on opportunities to apply skills learned in the classroom. “For our students, opportunities like this mean access,” he said. “Robotics gives them the chance to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it through problem-solving, engineering, coding, teamwork, and competition. More importantly, it gives students a chance to discover abilities and interests they may not have realized they had.” The award also supports Russellville Independent Schools' effort to develop robotics opportunities spanning multiple grade levels rather than limiting students to a single experience. “As we continue building our robotics program from elementary through high school, support like this helps us create a pathway instead of just a single experience,” Kisslebaugh said. “Students can begin developing these skills at a young age and continue growing throughout their time in our district.” Kisslebaugh said the skills students develop through robotics can benefit them regardless of the careers they eventually choose. “Whether they eventually pursue engineering, technology, skilled trades, computer science, or something completely different, they are gaining the confidence to solve problems, work with others, and understand that those career opportunities are within their reach,” he said. The local effort reflects the broader purpose of the TVA program, which is intended to expand student access to hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Funding may be used to establish new robotics programs or enhance existing programs, including purchasing equipment and materials. This is the second year TVA and Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., an independent nonprofit organization of TVA retirees and employees, have partnered to provide the robotics awards. “TVA and BVI are deeply committed to expanding access to robotics education across our seven-state region,” Interim TVA President and CEO Mike Skaggs said in announcing the awards. “These hands-on skills open doors to a wide range of career paths, and we’re focused on preparing today’s students to become tomorrow’s skilled, confident workforce.” Russellville High School was one of two Kentucky recipients identified by TVA. The IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation in Bowling Green also received $5,000. Adam Wolcott, BVI director of operations, said robotics programs provide students with experiences extending beyond building and programming machines. “Robotics gives students something lasting: the experience of problem-solving under pressure, working as a team and seeing their own ideas come to life,” Wolcott said. Schools and nonprofit organizations receiving electricity from local power companies served by TVA were eligible to apply for the awards. TVA is a federal corporation and the nation's largest public power supplier, providing electricity to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states. Denise Shoulders can be reached by emailing [email protected].