Bay High students in top-level robotics competition this March

Students work on the robot inside and out. From left: Khaled Hamil, Patrick Brophy, Matt Semler.

Quantum Steam is Bay High School's robotics team led by physics teacher and advisor Michael Clifford and captain Matt Semler. It was formed last school year (2017-18) by the teacher and enthusiastic students. The team competes annually in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). This competition is known as the most intense available to high school students and has taught the team a lot about designing, building, programming and marketing the robot and team. The team also is active, and still building on, community outreach and science education and fundraising.

During the FRC competition, teams compete in a game specifically created for the season. This year's game is titled "Destination: Deep Space" and requires the players to load hatch panels and cargo, in the form of playground balls, onto the team's rocket and cargo hold to earn points in order to win the game. Competing teams are given six weeks after the official "Kick Off" to build and then have to bag up the robot until competition day. The team learned a lot in 2018 as rookies and is looking forward to FRC this spring.

Quantum Steam also has many projects in the community in the works. In the fall, the team annually holds its major fundraising and educational Science Night, including the Spooky Science Lab and robot demonstration, just before Halloween. The team also participates in Bay's elementary school science fairs and provides demonstrations at such events or in school assemblies. 

The major fundraiser the team is currently holding is in collaboration with Graeter's in Crocker Park. Anyone can order ice cream, cakes, merchandise, and other items through a team member or online on the team website (tinyurl.com/QuantumSteam); 20 percent of profits from these sales will be given to the team. Orders are due by March 22 and can be picked up at Bay High School on April 12 from 4-8 p.m.

FRC's Buckeye Regional in which the team will compete is held on March 27-30, 2019 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center! Quantum Steam hopes to have a lot of support this season and next. The team will be expanding community outreach and inclusion with your help. 

Annalise Johnson

I'm a high-school student with a passion for music, dance, and marketing. I'm leading the Business and Marketing Teams for Bay High's Robotics Team Quantum Steam.

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Volume 11, Issue 4, Posted 10:01 AM, 02.19.2019