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Local youth win big at robotics competition

 FREEPORT, Ill – A team of four Stephenson County youth took home the Champion Award of the Rookie Division on April 16 at the 4-H SpaceBot Mission Command Challenge Robotics Competition held at the McLean County Fairgrounds. The A2=B2+C2 Team of Stephenson County was also named the winners of the Best Table Performance Award. Team members include Cassandra Bausman, Connor Bausman, Brogan Keltner, and Wade Sheffey.

The A2=B2+C2 team has been meeting at the Stephenson County Extension office twice a week since January to prepare for the competition by building and programming their two robots. Together they completed teamwork activities while learning the basics of programming, engineering, and design. Trouble-shooting and critical thinking were two very important skills they used to master their robots. The team made a code for the robots to complete specific tasks on a course within a three-minute time period.

The competition theme this year was drawn from the work of the 4-H in Space Mission Command Youth Team, which prepares curriculum and programming options for Illinois youth working with the International Space Station National Laboratories (ISS) and The Lab for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois, Department of Aerospace Engineering, (LASSI).

Illinois youth ages 8-18 competed in teams of three to ten youth at two levels of competition. Teams competing at the Rookie level had never competed in a 4-H, FLL/FTC/FRC competition. Those competing in the Advanced level had previously competed in those types of competitions. There were a total of 14 teams from across Illinois. Ten in the Rookie division and four in the Advanced division.

“I really appreciated the chance to learn and develop with my teammates the skills that could really help me out in the real world,” says first-time competitor Brogan Keltner of the A2=B2+C2 Team of Stephenson County. “We did a lot of practicing and we knew there would be a lot of pressure, so we really dialed down and worked as a team together to prepare.”

Competition judges were on hand to score events and determine the competition category winners.

“It’s really fun to see what kids are doing and there are so many different ways that the teams achieve and solve the same task,” says past competitor and three-time judge Dhruv Rebba of McLean County. “It’s cool to think I was in their same position when I was little and it’s really fun to see. As a past competitor, I understand everything you go through and it helps to understand how things work and how the teams program and I can make more informed decisions as a judge.”

Those interested in exploring robotics are encouraged to reach out to the Stephenson County Extension Office.

“I would say definitely do it,” says Brogan. “Because I really enjoyed this year, just programming and learning and developing with my team.”

For more information, call the Stephenson County Extension Office at 815-235-4125. Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in program and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, contact the program coordinator. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your needs.

Photo: Stephenson County 4-H Robotics Team with their two awards Best Table Performance Award and Champion Award for the Rookie Division, from left to right: Wade Sheffey, Connor Bausman, Cassandra Bausman, and Brogan Keltner.