The Turtle Tek robotics team surrounding their robot, Scuba, at competition. Back row, from left: Austin Thacker, Alex Woodard, Philip Turner, Zander Yost, Garret Schneider, Coach Ted Wilder, and Coach Heather Schneider. Kneeling: Katherine Woodard and Kelby Schneider. (Submitted photo)

Local FIRST robotics team has successful qualifier

Turtle Tek will move forward to the state championship

Turtle Tek, a local FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, recently had their first Qualifier of the season. This team of homeschooled and public high school students consists of Austin Thacker, Garrett Schneider, Isaac Kubatzke, Alexander Woodard, Katherine Woodard, Zander Yost, Philip Tuner and Kelby Schneider. Students come from Beloit and Clinton, as well as Poplar Grove, South Beloit, and Winnebago, Ill.

Turtle Tek competed at their first qualifier, Showdown in Sheboygan, on Nov. 23. They were awarded the First Place Think Award for their engineering portfolio. This judged award is given to the team that best reflects the journey the team took as they experienced the engineering design process during the build season. The engineering content within the portfolio is the key reference for judges to help identify the most deserving team.

They were also selected as the Inspire Award third place winner. The Inspire Award is given to the team that best embodies the “challenge” of the FIRST Tech Challenge program and is the highest award a team can win. The team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and a role model FIRST team.

The drive team contains the driver, operator, and drive coach. From left: Alex Woodard, Kelby Schneider, and Garrett Schneider. (Submitted photo)

Turtle TEK has the immense honor of advancing from this qualifier to the Wisconsin State Championship in March. This is the third season in a row that the team has qualified to attend the state championship at their first competition of the season. Turtle Tek will next compete at the GB Hackerz qualifier on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Kress Center on University of Wisconsin – Green Bay campus. The event is open to the public and will be an exciting day of robotics competition.

Turtle Tek is sponsored by Hendrick’s CareerTek, The MORSE Group, Wisconsin DPI Robotics Grant, Culvers, PTC, MSOE, Milwaukee Tools, The Association of Manufacturing Technology, and Stateline Community Foundation. The team is incredibly grateful to these companies for their support, in particular to Hendrick’s CareerTek for the practice space and funding for the season. The team would also like to thank their mentors Erik Rozolis, Nathan Wilder, Mason Sorensen and Mike Schneider for all the time they have given to help the team learn. The team is coached by Heather Schnieder and Ted Wilder.

For more information or to help sponsor Turtle Tek, please email [email protected].

About FIRST

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $80 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition for students in grades 9-12; FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7-12; and FIRST LEGO League for pre-K through eighth grade (ages 4-16; ages vary by country). “Gracious Professionalism” is their way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org.