Volume 1, Issue 47 APRIL 19, 2024
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
AREA ROBOTICS TEAMS WRAP UP 2024 SEASON By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
PERMIT NO 62
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Hart, Hesperia and Walkerville Robotics teams recently completed their 2024 season. Each team participated in the same three events held across West Michigan. “Our team, (Team MOTOR - MOre Than Our Robot) ended up doing well this year in our two competitions. We were in the middle of the pack, but our young team learned a lot. We were also surprised to find ourselves competing with two Rookie teams from Oceana County - the Walkerville Wildcats Team and Hesperia Robo PanthersTeam,” Hart Team MOTOR Coach/Mentor Matt Werner said. “We (Walkerville) learned a lot this first season and are looking forward to competing again next year. The school plans to add a Robotics class next year that will focus on the engineering and design process, as well as coding. We are also planning to start a middle school team and are excited to mentor them,” Walkerville Wildcats Coach/ Mentor Susan Schwarz said. The Robo Panthers,
Hart’s Robotics team (above, top) consists of, left to right, Gaige Gallop, Brandon Moul, Austin Hosking, JJ Bizon, Abigail Studer, Nicolas Ramirez, Matt Werner, Peter Tuinstra, Avery Guikiema, Deegan Symons, Clayton Riley and Owen Vander Vlucht (Ali Fleming, Aiden Henry and Owen Eisenlohr are not pictured.) Hesperia’s Robo Panthers (above, bottom) is made up of, left to right, Brandon Zavala, Eli Larkey, Zack Temple, Aiden Maxwell-Brant, Madison Berry, Mike Gerard and Dan Postema. • Contributed photo
became a team last fall and were led this season by mentors Dan Postema, Mike Gerard and Tim Fraley. “Our rookie team had almost zero experience with anything robotic. At a kickoff event for beginning teams in December we learned the basics about materials, tools, and some robotics programs/applications. After hearing what the 2024 “challenge” was and picking up our kit, we spent the next three months building, programming, testing and improving our robot. At the Muskegon Competition, we finished 30th of 40 teams and received a “rookie inspiration” award. At the Kentwood Competition, we finished 26th out of 39 teams,” Postema said. According to Werner, both the Muskegon and Kentwood competitions included 40 different teams from across West Michigan. In the first round, teams were randomly selected to determine alliances. Each team was then required to complete two tasks in
12 different team matches. Depending on how each team completed those two tasks, they were awarded ranking points. Each team had the potential to earn up to 48 points. Werner further explained, “In the second round, the top eight teams were allowed to select two teams from the overall 40 teams to join them in an alliance, allowing twenty-four teams to advance into a double-elimination bracket. Winners of each match go into the upper bracket; losers go in the lower bracket. Teams who lose two matches are eliminated completely from the competition. Hart was selected as an alliance team however they did not win either of the two matches they competed in. As first year rookie teams, both Hesperia and Walkerville were awarded 10 extra points to add to their ranking points. At the end of the competition, out of 622 teams across the State of Michigan, Walkerville placed 398, Hart placed
338 (with no rookie bonus points) and Hesperia placed 325. This year was Hart’s 8th year competing as a team.” Werner was also excited to share that going into next year, area teams will have access to their very own practice “field” in the Big Rapids area. Brian Dotson, MiSTEM Region 9 Director secured a grant earlier this year to purchase and set up a practice field for teams in Region 9. Practice “fields” are specially-equipped spaces with similar types of flooring, side walls and obstacles teams find at competitions, allowing them to more accurately determine how their robot will operate and react to each challenge. “This will provide a great opportunity for teams to practice before getting to competition,” Werner said. “The Robo Panthers are proud of our accomplishments this year. Despite taking a jump into something completely different and new, our team was able to overcome many challenges and make it to both of the regional competitions,” said Postema. “Our team is being noticed at school and in Hesperia as well as surrounding areas. This is a great program to have at our school. The skills that the kids and mentors are gaining from building a robot are skills that can turn into jobs and growth for our communities.” “It feels like Robotics is taking a step forward here in Oceana County. The MSU Research Station (on Oceana Drive) will be supporting more agricultural robotics work this summer. We (Hart) hope to take part in those activities. Robotic Agriculture is just getting started, and students participating in FIRST Robotics will be well positioned to help keep Oceana County growers apace with these advancements,” Werner concluded.
Eileen Homan of Hesperia Beautification, above, Vicki Burrell, of Hesperia Village and Hesperia Village President Mike Farber, help to break ground on the new pavillion, below, that will be constructed at Vida Weaver Park in Hesperia. • Scott Kroepel/Echo
Hesperia breaks ground for new park pavillion By Scott Kroepel The Oceana Echo Community Contributor The Hesperia Beautification Committee, part of the Hesperia Area Chamber of Commerce, partnered with the Village of Hesperia and others to break ground for a new pavilion at Vida Weaver Park on Monday, April 15. The pavilion is planned to include space for local families, visitors, school groups and a range of other activities to help drive economic activity to the downtown area, with the backdrop of the White River only steps away. Mike Seng Enterprises is the contractor for the project and is planning to have the pavilion completed by late summer of this year. The project is estimated to cost $140,000. To date, this endeavor is being funded by grants and pledges from: the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in partnership with The Right Place, Oceana County via funds from the American Rescue Plan, the Village of Hesperia via funds from the American Rescue Plan, the Oceana Foundation, and other private businesses and donors that the village and chamber intend to recognize at the dedication. “We are so excited for the addition of the Vida Weaver Pavilion! Not only does this project further develop one of Hesperia’s parks, but showcases the value of collaboration in a rural community,” Senior Economic Development Director at The Right Place Julie Burrell said. “As a Hesperia native, this project is even more impactful to me! Vida Weaver has seemed like the forgotten park with nearly no investment in the past few decades, although it boasts the most beautiful setting on the White River. I am so proud to have been a part of this project, working alongside the Village of Hesperia and Hesperia Beautification, truly enhancing an amazing place in our community.”