SCE&G presents a view from Riverbanks Zoo - SCANA Corporation

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Keenan High School’s robotics team won the Chairman’s Award for their community outreach program to teach younger children about robotics. participated in the two-day competition. SCE&G is a corporate sponsor of the event. Through the FIRST competition, students learn the principles of mathematics, engineering and computer science, as well as other skills needed to succeed in the workplace of the future. Each year, participating teams are given six weeks to build a robot designed to solve a specific engineering problem. Teams are required to use a standard kit of parts and a common set of rules. For the 2006 competition, students and their mentors were challenged to build a robot that could shoot or sweep foam balls into a goal while maneuvering around other competitors in a playing area similar to a basketball court. Al Pressley, assistant vice president at Keenan High School in Columbia, said the competition gives students an opportunity to experience science and mathematics in a fun, creative way. The Keenan team has participated in the Palmetto FIRST Regional Competition since the event’s inception three years ago. “Our intent in starting a team was to make science, math and engineering more exciting and enjoyable for our students,” Pressley said. “The challenge is not getting students interested in science and math. The challenge is maintaining their interest. You have to give them the opportunity to learn, but they also need to see the results of their work.” But the competition is not just about building robots. Students also get involved in writing a business plan for their team, Web site design, fundraising and community outreach. That's one of the biggest benefits, said SCE&G journeyman lineman Casey Forrester, whose daughter Alyshia is a member of the Keenan team. “The program ties into almost any career interest a student might have because there are so many aspects to it,” said Forrester, who supports the team through a variety of fundraising activities. “Alyshia is leaning toward going to law school, and she's been able to work on her writing skills. It gives the students a lot of self confidence.” Keenan won the Chairman’s Award for its community outreach project in the Palmetto FIRST Regional competition. The award is considered the highest honor in the competition, and it qualified the team to compete in the championship event in April. The team received a Judge’s Award for their project in that event. “The Chairman’s Award recognizes the effort made by the team to get people interested in FIRST robotics,” said math teacher Martin Cwiakala, an advisor to the team. “It was a real honor for our students to compete for the award on the national level. Although the team didn’t win the Chairman’s Award, they made an excellent showing and won a Judge’s Award.” Keenan’s unique project combined storytelling and puppetry to teach younger 26
children about robotics. The team’s program featured a robot puppet named Robbie Robo Raider. Designed and built by the students, the robot puppet has a face made of light emitting diodes and electrical switches to change its expressions. Robbie Robo Raider earned the team first place in the group competition at the Visual Literacy Festival held by Richland School District One this spring. The team also did a presentation at the Richland One Technology Fair and held storytelling programs at several schools in the district. The effort put forth by the team impressed the judges at the Palmetto FIRST competition, according to Cwiakala. “At first, the idea of combining robotics and puppetry sounded kind of strange,” said Cwiakala. “But the students had a blast with it. It’s shown them that the concepts they learn in science and mathematics can have real meaning.” From SCE&G’s perspective, the Palmetto FIRST robotics competition addresses a critical need to get more students interested in careers in science and engineering. The company employs hundreds of workers with highly technical skills in a state where demand exceeds supply. “Of the 33 regional events, the Palmetto Regional is recognized as one of the best in the nation,” said <strong>SCANA</strong> Senior Vice President Sharon Jenkins, who served as judge adviser for the event. “Because of the educational opportunities it provides, it’s a very important event for the state of South Carolina and the children growing up here.” BY JIM POINDEXTER PHOTOS BY ROBERT CLARK Below, Keenan High School students put the final touches on their robot, while robotics competition judges Jasper Salmond and SCE&G’s Angie Webb confer. 27
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SCE&G presents a view from Riverbanks Zoo - SCANA Corporation

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