CyberGirls kick-bot at high school competition
CyberGirls Robotics Team went bot-to-bot against 48 other high school teams at the VEX Robotics Competition in Brampton Dec. 5, finishing ninth in the qualifying rounds and advancing to the quarterfinals.
The competition challenges students to design, build and program a robot to compete in a sports type game. This year, robots worked in alliances of two teams to score balls into a 36-inch high goal while preventing their opponents from doing the same. In their first tournament, the girls rose to ninth place in the qualifying round out of 49 teams in a high school level tournament dominated by boys.
The CyberGirls won five of their six two-minute matches advancing to the elimination rounds where they were narrowly defeated in the quarterfinals. An important part of the VEX competition is working with other people, most of whom you have never met before, and problem solving in real time.
Teams must develop effective strategies with their alliance partners.
Gary Page, the lead mentor, was impressed by their commitment, dedication, maturity, and professionalism. He was proud to note that they made an impression on many at the tournament.
“When we decided to start a girls’ team, we never expected the level of commitment and dedication, nor the maturity and confidence at competition that we saw displayed,” said Page.
The Clearview-based team is made up of eight members ranging in age from nine to 15.
“It is great to have peers to look up to. We meet once per week and have a lot of fun. We learn to design, build and program the robots, and once they’re built, we learn to drive them. I’m thankful to have this opportunity and have learned a lot in this hands-on, supportive environment,” said Grade 7 student Ella Hayward.
CyberGirls is an offshoot of the Cybergnomes, a FIRST Robotics Canada team, which formed at Stayner Collegiate Institute in 2007 to engage youth in science, technology, engineering and math through competitive robotics. In 2014, they won the FIRST Western Canada Robotics Regional event and advanced to the world championships in St. Louis, returning again in 2015.
In 2016, responding to the low numbers of girls on the team, Cybergnomes Robotics started the CyberGirls, a deliberate effort to engage younger girls, aged 11 to 17. The goal is to build the confidence and leadership skills of girls and encourage them to eventually take on significant roles with the competitive high school team.
The CyberGirls are working hard over the Christmas holidays to refine their robot and prepare to compete in Ottawa in January and Newmarket in February.
The team is currently looking for sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring this innovative group of girls please contact Gary Page at 705-888-0731. Email cybergnomesteam2013@gmail.com, visit cybergnomes.ca and follow the team on Twitter @cybergnomes.
– Submitted by the CyberGirls.
