March 19, 2009

Pioneer, Los Gatos robotics students win awards at competition

By Carol Sheridan
Special to the Times

Forty-seven teams from California, Hawaii, and Nevada competed March 13 and 14 at the Silicon Valley FIRST Regional event held at the San Jose State Event Center, and one team, #668 or The Apes of Wrath, made up of students from Pioneer and Los Gatos high schools took home awards.

Team #668 was recognized as the team most committed to reaching out to the community, giving other schools and students the opportunity to be involved in this fine program.

FIRST is an international nonprofit organization promoting science and math as an important fundamental of America’s future. Its mission is to promote interest in science and technology in students by involving them in a program where they can learn and grow and are supported by professional mentors.

Although taking home the first-place trophy was the goal of the competition, a far bigger honor were the awards recognizing the team providing the greatest amount of support in spreading FIRST’s mission and honoring an outstanding mentor who has communicated science and engineering to the teams they work with. The Apes of Wrath won both these prestigious honors and in addition received the Woodie Flowers and the Chairman’s Award.

BAE sponsor Dennis Jenks received the Woodie Flowers award. He is the primary engineering mentor for Team #668 and has been involved in FIRST for the 10 years providing direction and guidance to students and assisting them in the design and manufacturing of the robot they build each year.

But Jenks’ contribution to robotics goes beyond mentoring students. In an effort to increase the goals of FIRST he is responsible for acquiring sponsorship from BAE for teams; otherwise they would be unable to participate in robotics. Working in the Ground Systems unit of BAE, Dennis has increased sponsorship within that division from two to 15 teams. Through his dedication, support and commitment Jenks has also encouraged employees in BAE to help out. The number of BAE employees that now mentor teams helping the students develop knowledge and application of science and technology has grown from four to 31. Through Jenks’ robotics work and support he has placed mentors in six new teams, including four states outside of California. He has earned and deserved this award.

The Apes of Wrath also won the highest most prestigious award—the 2009 Chairman’s Award. This is given to the team that reaches out to the community in an effort to spread the mission of FIRST to help inspire thinking of science and technology in students, giving them real life experience in those areas, leading to career opportunities in those fields. Team #668 has been instrumental in reaching out to the community. They have helped start and support rookie teams. In addition, the team is now a respected member of the robotics community because of their work ethic and their involvement with the community spreading FIRST to promote its growth and giving students in many locations the ability to participate.

Winning the game with the highest score through keen playing and strategy might have been the goal of the playing field, but the real winner of the competition was Team #668, which was rewarded for the best and most committed mentor at the event and by being recognized as the team reaching out to the community giving other schools and students the opportunity to be involved in this fine program.

“There is no way you can keep knowledge to yourself. There is no gain if you keep it to yourself,” said team member Tim Swihart, in acknowledging what Jenks does for all FIRST teams and what The Pioneer/Los Gatos Robotics Team stands for. The Apes of Wrath strive to gain knowledge and share it with the community they work with in an effort to encourage learning among young people through the FIRST Robotic League.