Fuquay-Varina High School’s “Slice” team and Enloe’s “RoboEagles,” two high school robotics teams from North Carolina, are currently competing in the First Championship held in Houston, Texas. The competition brings together schools from around the world to showcase their robot creations in a battle-like setting. Despite the competitive nature of the event, it is one where everyone emerges as a winner.
Thirteen teams from North Carolina, including Slice and RoboEagles, have traveled to Houston for the world championships that took place on April 17-20, 2024. In preparation for the event, students worked tirelessly to refine and fine-tune their robot creations. From conceiving ideas to designing and coding, students invested their time and effort to make their robots battle-ready.
Norm Dion, a teacher at Fuquay-Varina High School who oversees Team Slice, emphasizes the compressed time frame in which the students work. Funding for such competitions comes from student fundraising, sponsorships, and grants, showcasing the dedication and commitment of everyone involved.
Greg Dunko, advisor to the RoboEagles acknowledges the sleepless nights and intense schedule leading up to the competition. Students drive the team’s activities, pushing themselves to meet every night in preparation for the challenges ahead. Raza Alam from Cary senior expresses his excitement for the competition’s energy and intensity, highlighting the camaraderie and team spirit among participants.
Slice robots operate autonomously following pre-programmed instructions to complete tasks with speed and accuracy. The more rings they hit their target; higher is their score showcasing technical skills and strategy involved in this competition beyond fun games it helps students gain valuable skills that attract attention from talent scouts for potential internships or job opportunities.
Dunko emphasizes that participation in robotics competitions teaches important lessons like teamwork collaboration decision making under pressure these experiences not only prepare them for future academic or professional pursuits but also foster personal growth development as individuals working towards a common goal
