Luverne High School is seeking an interested business partner to fund its robotics team.
Aaron Perkins, the school’s chemistry and physics teacher, is willing to advise the new activity, but up to $20,000 is needed for the robot, equipment and travel associated with competing.
“The kit alone is $6,000,” Perkins told school board members Nov. 14 during a workshop session.
Perkins and students are approaching the business community for sponsorships and are applying for grants to help defray costs.
“The program will ultimately be self-funded,” Perkins said.
Currently 25 students are interested in forming a robotics team through the Minnesota State High School League and FIRST Robotics.
Five years ago, the board approved adding the First LEGO league for middle school students.
Robotics is for high school students who work with metal parts instead of the plastic LEGO blocks to construct a working robot.
Each team receives a kit of metal parts and builds and programs a robot to meet a specific challenge or game. The robots are large, about 3 feet wide and standing 6 feet tall, and weigh 150 pounds.
January and February will be spent building the robot, with the first regional competition in March. The state tournament is in May.
“(Robotics) encompasses a lot of the academics we are trying to teach,” Perkins said.
In addition to math, computer science and engineering concepts, robotics also enforces teamwork and other core values of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
Local mentors in various technical fields are also needed for the robotics team including welding, electronics and programming.
“We need an interested partner in order for this to be successful,” Perkins said.
Meeting in a workshop format, board members did not take a formal vote.
Members were supportive of adding robotics as a school activity and Perkins’ efforts to start a team.
“It sounds like a great program,” said School Board member Colleen Deutsch.
“I can totally see where these skills can be applied out in the real world,” added board member Reva Sehr.