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Lynn Kirk PTA raises funds for Austintown Fitch robotic team
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The students of Fitch High School’s Robotics team, FalcoTech 3193, posed with their basketball-shooting robot during their March 15 visit to Lynn Kirk’s Family Night.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Lynn Kirk students Jensen Sahli, MaKayla Savo, and Jocelyn Selby took pause from Lynn Kirk family night’s used book sale to share a smile.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Lynn Kirk students and families were invited to their school on the evening of March 15 for fun, food, and a demonstration from the Fitch High School robotics team. Students Chris King (left), Justin Mosser, Christian Cosa, and Luke Amendolea shared smiles as they worked on a their entries to the event’s coloring contest.
By SARAH FOOR
Family means a great deal to Lynn Kirk’s PTA, administration and students, but affection and encouragement aren’t just confined to the walls of the school.
During their March 15 Family Night, the Lynn Kirk PTA pledged all of their fundraising from the night’s used book and bake sale to the Fitch Robotics Team, Falco Tech 3193.
Lynn Kirk PTA president Sheeleen Selby said the team was going to simply demonstrate their robot at first.
“The team has this very demanding schedule – they returned last weekend from a competition in Pittsburgh and they’re heading to another tournament in Cincinnati early next month. It’s all very expensive and we wanted to help. We hope to completely sell out of our used books and the treats from our bake sale, so we can offer as much as possible to the team,” Selby said.
Along with browsing books and eating treats, guests participated in a coloring contest. As kids finished their masterpieces, Falco Tech 3193 demonstrated one of their robots that shoots basketballs.
Andy Yantes, a technical mentor with the Fitch team, pointed out some of the unique design elements of the robot during the presentation.
“We always have to consider the challenges of the competition, and with this piece, the tournament will include a crowded field with many machines shooting at the same time. Our robot includes pneumatic tires for more precise turning, as well as a motor that helps pull the basketballs into a chute to prepare for a new shot,” Yantes said.
Falco Tech students controlling the robot made many successful baskets during the presentation.
Fitch Robotics adviser Ric Zimmerman told the crowd of Lynn Kirk families that the team raises $15,000 a year alone to participate in FIRST Robotics competitions.
However, Yantes said it isn’t simply the financial support from Lynn Kirk that is encouraging.
“The elementary schools aren’t required to worry about what is happening up at the high school, but Lynn Kirk and the PTA did. We’ll be representing Austintown with a lot of pride at our next competition,” the adviser said.