The OHS Robotics Team is a group of students who work together to build robots out of a passion for engineering. This year, the team is further contributing to its growth by hosting their very first competition.
“Our program was very small and in past years we have had to travel very far, so it’s pretty cool that our program has grown and is now big enough to host our own competition,” junior Jun Jang said. “This event marks a significant achievement for the team as Oxford’s first time hosting.”
Sophomore Sadie Gray vocalized her appreciation in being able to be a part of Oxford’s first competition. With Oxford’s growing engineering program students like Gray are thrilled to be part of its development.
“It is an honor being a part of this,” Gray said. “The engineering program is relatively new and the fact that I am able to play a role in the development means so much to me.”
Gray’s love for robotics and engineering embodies the growth the program has achieved. Oxford’s engineering program is fairly new and has shown tremendous development throughout the years.
“Robotics at Oxford High School has a future,” senior Walker Houston said. “Having this competition just puts us on the map for state competition.”
This event not only marks a milestone for Oxford High School but helps their chances for winning the Robotics State Championship. With competitions approaching, teams from across the state will face off in an intense game where strategy and teamwork are key to victory.
“This upcoming competition in February will have teams from around the state participating in the ‘High Stakes’ game,” Gray said. “Teams will be randomly partnered with different teams each round trying to score more rings than their opponent.”
For many team members, robotics gives them opportunities to engage in hands-on experiments and refine their skills. The robotics club lets students do what they love most and experiment with new technologies.
“I liked going through the iterative process of improving a small amount a little at a time,” Jang said. “I think robotics and doing this club helps me experiment and do that process.”
Jangs passion for engineering sparked at a young age, and a process that inspired his devotion for robot- ics which ultimately has helped him learn and develop new skills. Jang has gained many skills from robotics that he has been able to apply in his day to day life.
“The thinking process and problem solving skills I have learned have definitely helped me,” Jang said. “Like when something is wrong with a robot I can apply my problem solving intuition into other places.”
Houston has expressed how robotics has greatly influenced his college decision. He is planning on going somewhere to pursue a career and future in engineering.
“Joining robotics has guided me and played a huge role in my decision with what I’m going to college for,” Houston said. “It has played a big part in choosing to go into Civil Engineering.”
Houston visited Seattle this summer for a robotics trip. On this trip he (Houston) expanded his knowledge and experienced new environments.
“DK Metcalf and Delta Airlines reached out so we applied and three of us went up there,” Houston said. “We toured and viewed the Delta ads and attended a Seattle game.”
This was a once in a lifetime experience that Houston and other members got to participate in. For Gray the most exhilarating aspect of the competition is during it when they actually get to put their skills to the test.
“I think the actual event is the most exciting part,” Gray said. “At our last competition I was driving, and it is so fun being able to strategize with other teams and seeing your own skills grow.”
