Rolfson, Taber foundations boost PHS robotics team
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POLSON — The task: develop a robot that can pick up racquetballs, put them in a crate and then stack the crates. A team gets extra points if the robot can lift the crate above its head. The machine also must push a bowling bowl up a ramp, and it must fit into an 18-inch by 18-inch box.
Polson High School students joined robotics teams from around the state for the State competition at Montana State University in January where they finished 27th out of 36 teams.
“It was an incredible competition,” team member Damon Whealon explained, since teams from AA, A, B, and C schools as well as a Girl Scout team brought their robots.
Short on funds for tools, parts and motors, the students worked in the PHS concessions stand during volleyball games, a couple of football games and their share of basketball games to fund their “bot.”
But on Wednesday, Feb. 15, they got some help — a $2,412 check from the Mars and Verna Rolfson Foundation and a $4,035 check from the George Taber Foundation. With that bankroll, the students can continue their activities.
This is the third year PHS has had a robotics team, and the second year they have competed. This year the robotics club more than tripled its membership from a core of four stalwarts — Tyler Farley, Richard Redfern, Tom Warner and Damon Whealon — to about 15.
The club began when Bill Appleton, School District 23 curriculum director, was serving as interim principal during the 2009-10 school year. Somehow, Appleton said, PHS Junior Warner found out Appleton used to teach at a school that had a robotics club and asked him to serve as advisor.
“Back in elementary school,” Warner said, “I was involved in a fifth grade Lego robotics team. I wanted to start one up at PHS.”
Although Appleton said he knew nothing about engineering, he helped launch the club, which meets every other Wednesday at 10 a.m. during the time set aside by PHS for club meetings. Appleton said they also meet many times after school. He added that a class that includes robotics in the curriculum has been added, although only one of the young men could fit it into his schedule.
The boys and Appleton had nothing but thanks for the Ronan robotics program and advisor Jesse Gray, “who mentored us along.” Ronan even invited the team to try out its robot on Ronan’s testing track.
Currently the PHS group is building a robot for recruiting purposes. Farley said the club plans to take the robot to Polson Middle School and run it down the halls to raise interest for new members.
