RSU 34 held a district-wide robotics celebration recentyly to thank donors and to celebrate the Old Town High School Robotics Team’s winning rookie season.

The RSU 34 Robotics Design/Engineering Initiative begins in grade 3 and will continue into high school, beginning with Lego WeDo robotics kits, progressing into the Lego Mindstorms kits, and then into design/engineering expansion packs. Teachers are currently beginning implementation of this engineering curriculum, and will gradually integrate use of the robotics kits into other instruction. Old Town Elementary School teacher Sandy Daniel shared with the group some examples of initial implementation, RSU #34 Curriculum Director Jon Doty shared the district’s inclusion of robotics in a progressive series of opportunities, and Old Town High School teacher Lisa Gagnon discussed the plan for a full-year robotics class at OTHS next year.

Funding support for the initiative was provided by Cyr Bus Co., Sargent Corp., Sue and Joe Cyr, the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, the Leonard Middle School parent-teacher group, the Old Town Elementary School parent-teacher group, Ralph Leonard / Central Equipment Co., Friends of the River Coalition, Jake Ward, James W. Sewall Co., Kiwanis, Kristen and Jon Doty, Lloyd and Dorothy Hall, OJ Folsom Co., and the Rotary Club. A coyote statue, made of legos, was provided to the donors as a symbol of RSU #34’s thanks for their contribution.

The OTHS Robotics Team, in its rookie season, took runner-up honors at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute tournament, quarter-final honors at the Pine Tree Regional tournament, were runners-up at the New England Championship, and won several rounds at the World Championships in St. Louis. The team was supported at many steps in their journey, especially through an outpouring of community support to fund the unexpected trip to St. Louis for the World Championships.

The evening began with recognition of “Coyote Pups” Lego Robotics coaches Dorothy Dawson-Hall and Lloyd Hall, who greatly accelerated use of robotics in RSU 34 several years ago. The team honored mentors Blake Bourque and “Mr. B”, honored coach Lisa Gagnon, and presented 3d-printed models of their robot as a token of thanks to donors. Donors to the OTHS robotics team included: Dana Humphrey, Mike Wright, Gene Fitzpatrick, the Robotics Institute of Maine, NASA, Russell and Ann Sossong, OJ Folsom, UMaine Student Government, the Jacque Tuell memorial fund, Dorothy Dawson-Hall, Cyr Bus Co., UMaine Marine Science Department, Emmanuel Boss, Julie Rutherford, Kevin and Beth Morin, Friends of the River Coalition, David Wollstadt, Birmingham Funeral Home, Kepware Technologies, and Sappi.

At this season’s regional competitions, the OTHS team repeatedly heard from veteran teams that it usually takes 5-10 years to reach the level of school, district, and community support that the OTHS team gained in their first year. To celebrate that support, Robotics Team ties were presented to OTHS Principal Scott Gordon, Curriculum Director Jon Doty, and Superintendent David Walker.