Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Fruitport’s F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Team, the Techno Trojans, saw the disappointing suspension of the remainder of their competition season. But, they have gained valuable insights and had outstanding achievements, and hope that next season will be better.

According to an article by Krystle Wagner of the Grand Haven Tribune, Coach Joe Hebert had difficulty telling the students that the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics organization had suspended the season. However, the team knew that the organization’s decision is for a good cause. “The Techno Trojans understand the necessity to keep everyone safe and healthy,” Coach Joe said.

He said that although the remaining season’s competitions were canceled, the event judges were still able to interview students remotely and evaluate teams who submitted for Chairman’s Awards. As the most prestigious award a team can win, the Chairman’s Award looks at what a team, its students, coaches, and mentors do to advance F.I.R.S.T. Robotics and S.T.E.M. education in their school district and community.

“This year, for the Muskegon District, the Techno Trojans received the Chairman’s Award for their first time ever,” Coach Joe said. “Over the past number of years, the Techno Trojans have been involved in numerous annual community events that help introduce robotics to kids, as well as being instrumental with helping Fruitport’s middle school and elementary school’s robotics teams. The Techno Trojans also stepped up to give technical assistance to competitor teams to help their programs succeed. This spirit of cooperation has always been present at Fruitport and is foundational in advancing S.T.E.M. education through robotics for all communities.”

Another achievement for the Techno Trojans happened at their competition, March 6-8, 2020, where they won first place at the Ontario District Humber College Event called “Infinite Recharge”. The Techno Trojans are thankful that they were among the teams that competed this year, since many teams weren’t able to.

“While the team struggled with significant robot coding and mechanical issues, the programmers and technicians worked tirelessly over those three days to overcome them,” Coach Joe said. “In the end, the students learned to never give up and [to] persevere through adversity.”

 Other robotics teams shared Fruitport’s disappointment with the shortness of the season, according to another article by Wagner for the Tribune. However, they also share Fruitport’s optimism. Coach Chuck Priese of the Grand Haven Buck’n’Gears shared his sentiments: “When I think about our purpose, the students still learned a ton about teamwork, skills, and S.T.E.M. So the season did accomplish great things for the students.”

Fruitport’s Coach Joe told the Tribune, “I would hope that [the students] will continue their journey, no matter what, into S.T.E.M. fields, sciences and engineering, that led them to robotics in the first place.”

Even with the shortened season, Coach Joe said that the Techno Trojans learned a lot and had one of the most successful years in team history. In all, the team is looking forward to next year, with the hope that they will be able to resume meeting together and take on the challenge of building a new competition robot.

by Kate and Calvin Holtrop: Published in the Fruitport Area News, 2020, May Issue, page 19