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BVT Robotics Team Roars into New England Championship

May 29, 2015 10:19AM ● By Pamela Johnson

Members of The Intimidators' "drive team," including Information Technology senior William Stevens of Millbury, Electronics and Engineering Technology seniors Anthony Arrigo of Upton, Dillon Arnold of Northbridge, Brett Yoder of Douglas, and sophomore Elizabeth Constantineau of Millville. Robotics Team member Parker Grant of Upton (far left), was on hand to witness the drive team's latest round of practice.

Following two consecutive second-place finishes on the district level, the Blackstone Valley Tech Robotics Team is making a run at the FIRST Robotics Competition New England Championship.
 
On March 5, the BVT Robotics Team, known as The Intimidators, entered as the 9th ranked seed in the FIRST New England District Pioneer Valley Event in Springfield. Competing over two days against 33 teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont, the BVT Intimidators captured 2nd place medals and earned the Excellence in Engineering Award sponsored by Delphi.  Two weeks later, in the FIRST New England Rhode Island Event, The Intimidators squared off against 39 other teams and earned second place medals, as well as the Quality Award sponsored by Motorola.
 
Heading into the FIRST New England Championship on April 9-11, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Valley Tech Robotics Team is currently ranked 7th out of 175 teams. Team advisor and Electronics and Engineering Technology instructor Michael Norton said he's especially proud of the BVT team for handling the entire engineering, construction, and operation of its robots, as many of their competitors rely on the work of professional engineers.
 
According to Valley Tech Vocational Curriculum Coordinator Thomas Belland, the FIRST Robotics Competitions have been an ideal vehicle for the school’s "work without walls" approach to interdisciplinary collaboration.
 
"A robot can be designed in Drafting, constructed by Manufacturing, and brought to life by Electronics, with shops like Auto Tech, Painting and Design Technology, Construction Technology, and others contributing along the way," Belland explained. "Each shop completes its portion of the project with input and feedback from the other disciplines, which helps our students develop the team-focused, goal-driven mindset that employers demand."
 
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of vigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.


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