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Overcast For Clarke Robotics students, the future is now
Young engineers from Salisbury compete with Long Island's best
See the video: Clarke's robot competes on the soccer field
A spirited crowd roared as robots competed on a soccer field inside the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra.
The scene appeared more like an illustration of the future straight out of an old science fiction novel.
Instead, the scene played itself out last weekend at Hofstra courtesy of hundreds of high school students from Long Island, including Team 569 from W.T. Clarke High School in Salisbury.
The event was the 2010 SBPLI Long Island FIRST Robotics Competition, an annual event that tests students' skills in mathematics, science, engineering and technology.
“This is the saving grace for Long Island,” said Dr. Frank Saracino, an East Meadow resident and a major supporter of the robotics program on Long Island. “We need to provide good paying jobs, which are in technology now.”
“It teaches things that a textbook can't teach,” the former superintendent added.
FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, started on Long Island in 1999, when only eight teams participated. This year, about 50 high schools from the Island and the metropolitan area took part in the festivities.
Team 569 is led by Michael Connors, a Clarke graduate ('77), who teaches the engineering courses and coaches the robotics squad.
The three-year electromechanical engineering program has become a popular choice at Clarke.
“The program provides a unique opportunity to prepare for and seek careers in engineering,” Clarke Principal Timothy Voels said. “Students get to apply math and scientific principals to real-world problems.”
Clarke's 11-year history in Robotics may be short, but it is rich. It includes appearances in national and regional competitions.
Beyond team and individual successes in competitions, a student's participation in the robotics opens them up to a rich network of potential local employers, through efforts by FIRST and SBPLI (School-Business Partnerships of Long Island). The program also leads to millions of dollars in scholarships to students.
