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Winning first place at the FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) at the Silicon Valley Regional Robotics Competition in San Jose, Calif., shocked Waialua High School senior Lyle Lopez. Waialua High robotics team
again heading to nationalsBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com"I couldn't speak," said the 17-year-old team co-captain.
Lopez, along with 12 other members of the Waialua robotics team, won the competition last week with Arizona's Kingman High School and San Jose's Bellarmine College Preparatory. The event was held at the San Jose State University Event Center on March 28-30.
The schools, along with teams from 16 other regional competitions, will be invited to the championship to be held April 25-27 at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. Each team is eligible to win more than $1.7 million in scholarships.
Last year, Waialua and Waipahu high schools won the regional competition.
The robotics competition was created by Dean Kamen, inventor for the Segway Human Transporter that was recently featured at the state Capitol. Kamen's intent was to inspire high school students to explore careers in engineering, science, mathematics and technology.
Team members designed and built a remote-controlled device that scooped up balls with its basket and dumped them into a separate container.
About 49 teams entered the regional competition this year. Each team is mailed a box of materials and is required to build the machine in six weeks.
Being a member of the robotics team has helped Lopez learn more about electronics, Web page design, and video production, he said. The teen said he plans to major in engineering at Loyola Marymount University.
The Waialua robotics team also received the Judge's Choice Award for their efforts in marketing, community involvement and mentoring.
Project coordinator Ted Nagata said, "These kids are a terrific bunch of students."
Nagata added the competition helps student learn how to work together and adopt skills needed in the job industry.
The Waialua community assisted the students with travel and hotel expenses by holding various fund-raisers throughout the school year.
Sponsors included the McInerny Foundation, Waialua Federal Credit Union, Waialua High School PTSO, Xcel Hawaii, Inc., University of Hawaii Engineering Alumnae Association and the North Shore Hanapaa Club.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.