Ten from South Terrace to compete in National Robotics

By Lois Mittino Gray

They did it. Just as their coach predicted, the Prowling Panthers of South Terrace Elementary School were talented enough to earn a berth in the National Robotics Competition in New Jersey on June 6-7.

The crackerjack team of ten students scored so high at the State Robotics Competition at the University of Indianapolis on January 10 that they received invitations to participate at two of the five possible locations for the competition this summer. “Invitations came in from both New Jersey and Massachusetts. I could attend the New Jersey date, but the Massachusetts date coincides with my grandson’s wedding. I would have had to send other coaches to go with them. They took a vote and wanted me there, so they opted for New Jersey,” Robotics Team Coach Pam Wilson explained of the group’s decision.

They wanted Wilson to be with them because she has been their enthusiastic, supportive coach through the years who predicted they were knowledgeable enough this year to qualify for nationals. “They are a phenomenal team,” she observed. Wilson is the Innovate Teacher who leads all kinds of STEM classes and technology instruction at South Terrace Elementary School in Wadesville.

The Prowling Panthers Robotics Team, looking spiffy in their matching black, white, and red team shirts and caps, started on this long road to Nationals by competing at the Regional Championship at the New Tech School in Evansville in November. The team took home two trophies by earning first place on Innovation Board and the Mission Run Board portions of the competition there.

At the Semi-State Competition at Vincennes University on December 20, the team came home with two more trophies in hand. They not only won the entire competition, but also won the mission board trophy. A third trophy was taken home by Wilson’s husband, David Wilson, who won the Volunteer Coach of the Year Award at Semi-State.

The team excelled at State and won one of the five offered slots to Nationals from among 200 Indiana teams who started out in November. “We were the only team from Southern Indiana to qualify. All the others were from schools up North,” Wilson observed. “They were competing against several teams of eighth graders who had been competing together for several years. Our little fourth, fifth and sixth grade team came out ready to compete from the very beginning and never held back.”

The group of savvy tekkies not only placed second in the robot games at state with a high score of 440 points, which is their best score in any of the competitions so far this season. They also placed third in the biggest category of championship finalists. That category is made up of their total scores from the robot games, their core values and their 30 minute presentation to the judges on their innovation project and mission robot.

“At one point, we had several judges and the heads of the First Indiana robotics program coming over to the team to talk with them about their innovation project because they heard how amazing their presentation was. These kids definitely made a name for themselves and put this small school from Posey County on the map,” stated Amanda Bratton, a communications specialist for the team and a parent, in her Facebook post.

Bratton thanked Donna Mcginness, Ashley Grimes and Taylor Patton for driving all the way up to Indianapolis on a Saturday for the State contest. Wilson was unable to attend due to having surgery, so the three teachers showed up to help Bratton and Assistant Coach Wilson. “We could definitely feel the void of Wilson not being there, because she is the heart and soul of this team and the reason this program and team have grown profoundly this year,” Bratton declared. “The teachers cheered, they cried, they showed their support and they felt immense pride in their students for all of their hard work at the state competition. The students at South Terrace Elementary are incredibly lucky to have people like this in their lives. To say that we are immensely proud would be an understatement,” Bratton wrote.

A team parent, Kristi Mayer commented, “In Wilson’s words “show what you know.” This team sure did that. Wow, what an exciting few months this has been. These kids have also made great friends and learned so much about team work. These kids are amazing. The coaches have given up so much time for this team and it all paid off.”

South Terrace School Secretary Kathy Martin commented, “I’m so happy for them. They are truly amazing, and proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. These students and coaches have poured countless hours, dedication, and heart into their robotics team, and it has absolutely paid off. Well-deserved my friends.”

The team plans to attend the February 9 meeting of the North Posey School Board to tell of their exploits and ideas for the upcoming National competition. Wilson will be organizing fundraisers and getting sponsors to help the Panthers stalk a National championship. “Several businesses told me they were interested in sponsorship,” she said optimistically. “We’ll get information out on how to donate.”