Students tote merits of HS Robotic Club to School Board

Representing Tehachapi High School Robotics Team 585 at the March 24 school board meeting were seniors Kurt Pauer and Austin Beck. The students presented an update on the activities of their successful robotics team.

Pauer said, “The program fosters a love of engineering, promotes critical thinking and helps to prepare students for the job market.” The program has a hands-off mentoring policy, which enables the students to design, build, program and test their robots themselves. Under the supervision of their mentors, the students learn to use 3D printing and rapid prototyping to check for form, fit and function. They feel that it is important for students to start learning the basics at an early age. The group works with around 300 third, fourth and fifth graders every year, teaching them computer coding basics.

Austin Beck said, “This is not only a rural program but is part of a nationwide drive to promote engineering. Graduates in robotics programs have been granted internships by such companies as Lockheed Martin, NASA, and Northrop Grumman.”

The Tehachapi High School Robotics Team will be competing in Las Vegas, March 26-28, and will be attending the FIRST Robotics Championships at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, April 22-25, 2015. This is Pauer’s second year in the program and he has plans to study mechanical engineering. Beck is in his first year of robotics and is looking to join the military and study law after graduation.