South Portland team does well as global robotics matches begin
Published by The Portland Press Herald on Thursday, April 27th, 2012
A team from South Portland High School is doing well in an international robotics competition featuring 400 teams from around the world.
Bob Libby, who is coaching the South Portland team, said Thursday night that the local school is currently in 45th place in its division. There are four divisions with 100 teams in each.
Robotics is good for youth, says teacher
By Kristy Wagner, Staff Writer of The Sentry published Friday, March 30th, 2012
The only thing Ralph Newell loves more than physics is teaching. Next to teaching physics, he might also mention the South Portland High School robotics team. “It isn’t me. It’s (the students),” Newell said.
One of Newell’s favorite parts of teaching at the high school is his involvement with the robotics team. “I will tell you (robotics) is the best extracurricular school activity I have ever seen and that includes all the wonderful sports we have, the music programs, the Key Clubs, the class meetings and all that stuff,” Newell said. “None of it has the qualities that this one does. It’s just a wonderful program.” Newell said he began facilitating student robotics in 1996 when the superintendent at the time asked him if he would be the teacher liaison for the group.
Robotics team earns place at national championships
By Theresa Libby in Letters to the Editor of The Portland Press Herald published Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
It is easy to read the newspaper and find examples of strife and conflict. Not as easy to find examples of cooperation, teamwork and shared success. This is a good-news letter about the South Portland FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics team, the Riot Crew.
This high school team has been building a robot and competing each year, as members build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication and leadership.
South Portland High School’s FIRST Robotics Team Wins a Place in the International Championship
By mmullen, Community Web Producer of WCSH6 published Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME – South Portland High School’s FIRST Robotics Team, The Riot Crew, won first place at the BAE Granite State Regional match, and now aims to take the title at the championship in St. Louis April 26-28.
The FIRST Robotics Competition partners professionals with high school students to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. In 2012, over 50,000 students are involved on over 2,300 teams from 11 countries to compete in 59 regional competitions across 3 countries. The competitions play out like high-tech spectator sporting event, building the students’ skills in problem solving, brainstorming, teamwork and project-focused work.
South Portland students win robotics competition
By Duke Harrington of The Current published Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
The South Portland High School robotics team, better know as “The Riot Crew,” has transferred to a national stage with its win in the BAE Systems Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Manchester, N.H., March 3.
The team now takes its talents to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis April 26-28 to match wits with robot masters from across the country in events designed to test their skills on so-called STEM courses – science, technology, engineering and math.
S. Portland robot team wins regional challenge
By Kelly Bouchard of The Portland Press Herald published Monday, March 5th, 2012
The South Portland High School robotics team is heading to the annual FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis, Mo., in April after winning the regional competition last weekend.
Two Maine robotics teams performed well in the 2012 BAE Systems Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Manchester, N.H., Thursday through Saturday.
Previous Years
Maine’s robotics teams give engineering a spin
By Kelly Bouchard of The Portland Press Herald published Monday, February 7th, 2011
Jacub Emery hunched over a careful configuration of wires and wheels and aluminum framing and purred his devotion to the drivetrain taking shape on the worktable in front of him.
“This is my baby,” he said. “This is what I do for hours and hours and hours. If we’ve got it right, it should go about 10 mph, which would be the fastest robot we’ve ever made.”
