Sierra College believes applying technologies for fun leads to technical majors and careers
ROCKLIN – Employers in Placer and Nevada counties report that they need more technically oriented employees to fill high paying local jobs. So the Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) is supporting the South Placer Robotics Club. The club built a robot that is competing in FIRST (usfirst.org) Robotics Regional Competition in Davis on March 30 and 31 (firstsac.engineering.ucdavis.edu). Nationwide 33,000 students on 1300 teams will compete in 37 regional competitions like the one held in Davis.
The club gives students a practical way to apply what they are learning in science and math as well as operate as a team to solve a problem with limited budget, resources and time, according to team coach, Stephen Miller, a Granite Bay High School teacher. “Many former team members have gone on to pursue engineering degrees and work in technical industries,” said Miller. “This year the robots compete against each other to gather inner tubes and put them on racks as well as work with other robots to lift one off of the ground at least 4 inches.”
See what it is about: View a video of last year’s competition and why students, parents and teachers believe in the positive impact of this program at: sierracollegetraining.com
Watch the game: Come to Davis to see to enthusiasm for applying technology that the FIRST competition sparks among high school students.
When: March 30 and 31, 9:30 AM to 3 PM
Where: UC Davis, Activities and Recreation Center, formerly the Rec. Hall; Directions at firstsac.engineering.ucdavis.edu/pages/competition.html
Visuals:
- Students working together to fine-tune, repair and operate robots in competition
- Robots competing in 2007 Rack N’ Roll game to score points for the team
Interviews:
- Stephen Miller, Granite Bay High School Teacher and Robotics Club Advisor, will be available for interviews at the competition on Fri., March 30 and Sat., March 31.
- Carol Pepper-Kittredge of Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies, a sponsor of the club, is available for interviews prior to the event.
