The 2014 All-County MVP Robotics Team — Seated: Joshua Durham (OSTC Northeast), Daniel Castro (Notre Dame Prep), Michael Arwashwan (International Academy East), James Wallace (Brandon), Jacob Bischer (Holly & Grand Blanc), Sydney Clark (Walled Lake Schools), Samantha Garcia (Brother Rice and Marian), Tyler Davis (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s), and Diego Toral (Rochester Adams). Standing: Carl Wilburn (Cranbrook), Grant Johnson (Lake Orion), Nick Kroetsch (Birmingham Schools), Shawn Mallon II (Clawson), Terrell Faison (OSTC Southwest), Alex Ball (West Bloomfield), Calvin Budgery (Waterford Mott), Josh Taylor (Waterford Kettering), and Hector Sandoval (Pontiac). Not Pictured: Colin Redner (Catholic Central), Matthew Anderson (OSTC Southeast), Drew Sedam (Oxford), Jacob Scholl (Roeper), and Lenae Jefferson (Southfield).
2014 All-County MVP Robotics Team announced at annual awards banquet
WATERFORD, MI – The Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association (OCCRA) held their 11th Annual Awards Banquet on December 3, 2014, at Oakland Schools in Waterford. The thirty schools participating in the robotics league were honored as OCCRA celebrated its 15th season. Over 600 students, mentors and families in attendance enjoyed a buffet dinner, prepared by the culinary students at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast. The keynote speaker was Dr. Joseph Johnson, senior lead mechanical engineer for iRobot and holder of two dozen patents.
The Oakland Schools Education Foundation presented a tribute to the many sponsors of the league. Korina Kasperek, senior client relations consultant from DTE Energy Foundation accepted the “Corporate Supporter of the Year Award” on behalf of the DTE Energy Foundation, whose generous contributions make the high-impact robotics program possible.
The evening’s highlights also included the induction of two new members into the OCCRA Hall of Fame: Sue Slade of Pontiac ITA’s “Wings of Fire” team was inducted as “2014 Mentor,” and Clint Spevak instructor and coach from Roeper School was inducted as the “2014 Educator.”
Students participating in the OCCRA competition this season had to put their science and technology skills to work. The challenge was to design and build 120-lb. robots that could place milk crates on multiple goal shelves and then jockey for position on an elevated platform in a ‘King of the Hill” scuffle. The championship robot alliance of Rochester Adams High School and the International Academy East was recognized. The annual “Foundation Award for the Outstanding Robotics Program of 2014” went to the students and coaches of Notre Dame Preparatory School.
For more information on OCCRA, please contact Terri Kroll, OCCRA coordinator, Oakland Schools at 248-209-2432 or by email at terri.kroll@oakland.k12.mi.us. You can also get more information on OCCRA by visiting the OCCRA website.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.