MANITOULIN—As both the Manitoulin Secondary School and the Wiikwemkoong High School First Robotics teams get set for their first competition of the season this weekend, they are both still requesting the public’s help as they embark on the season.
The MSS and WHS teams will both be taking part in the regional competition in North Bay this weekend, and then the following weekend at a competition taking place at McMaster University in Hamilton. If they are successful, the teams will qualify for the provincials. The MSS team has already qualified for the 2024 World Championships taking place later this spring, while WHS is hoping to qualify as well.
“A week Friday and we will be competing in the regional competition in North Bay,” said Yana Bauer, an MSS team mentor/coach last week. “We are hoping to get to the competitions and get some wins under our belt.”
“And we are continuing to fundraise,” said Ms. Bauer. “We have had sponsors come forward and on my last check we have $18,000 raised of a total of $54,000 we need to get to Houston for the world championships. We have had great support with 28 sponsors generously coming forward with support thus far but yes, definitely, we need additional financial support to get to the worlds.” She said the team, through its fundraising and generous donations made to the team, is in good shape for the robotics season competitions but is still fundraising for the worlds.
“Our concern right now is that if we don’t raise enough, some students may not be able to afford to go to Houston,” said Ms. Bauer.
Ms. Bauer pointed out among the many supporters the MSS team has includes the Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club which has had 50/50 draws (with half the funds from ticket sales going to the MSS robotics team). “The students and parents have worked hard on that by selling tickets at (Mindemoya) Foodland every weekend for the past three months. Also, Natasha McVey organized a fundraising dinner in Evansville (March 9), with our team members volunteering to help serve, wash dishes and clean up afterwards. It was a wonderful dinner, with 125 people being on hand for the dinner. Every bit helps the cause.”
The MSS team has a fundraiser on the Canada Helps site, which indicates a total of $54,000 is needed by the team to compete. “Manitoulin Metal is returning to the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston. It ‘s not just private and big southern schools that can win at Robotics! Your Manitoulin team won the Impact Finalist Award at the World championships in April 2023. This qualified the team for the 2024 World Championships!”
“We are so grateful to all the generous sponsors who support Manitoulin Metal,” the MSS Canada Helps page reads. The team has grown and has ambitious plans for the season. Manitoulin kids are so excited to compete internationally. Competing internationally is not an expense many Manitoulin kids can afford. Your champions need help with air travel, accommodations and registration fees. All donated funds will help to cover trip costs. We are grateful for any size donation and thank everyone for your support and encouragement.”
The MSS team was busy working on its robot and their robot reveal video, in the upstairs area of the Mindemoya arena last week. “Thanks to the generosity of Central Manitoulin council, our students have been able to use the space to have a (robot) drive practice each day after school and allow our drivers and controllers to improve their skills. In our seven years of robotics, we have never had the space to hone our skills on our robot prior to competitions.
The WHS robotics team has also been building their robot and improving their teams’ driving/controller skills on their robot. “It is a big endeavour to take a full team down south to competition, with the costs of hotels, travel days, accommodation, team registration and food,” said Chris Mara coach/mentor of the WHS team. “If we qualify for the provincials, we will have to raise $70,000 in total for all the competitions.”
“Definitely, if anyone would like to donate to our team it would be gratefully accepted,” said Mr. Mara. “Any donation of any size would be very welcome. Our sponsors have been very generous and they work very hard and provide support to have First Nations young people involved in these type of events and have these opportunities.”
“We will be taking part in the regionals in North Bay, then at the competition in Hamilton at McMaster University and then, the following week, if we quality, the provincials,” said Mr. Mara. He pointed out “we will be taking 27 students to the competitions. This is the biggest team we have ever taken, although it is not a big team compared to others. Most robotics teams have between 50-100 team members.”
“Our design team has done a phenomenal job this year, I didn’t think they could do better than last year, but they have integrated the design with art, engineering, math, and connected them with the culture and language this year,” stated Mr. Mara. “Our robot, team t-shirts, logo, our three panels that will be displayed in the competition pit area will display all the teaching and artistic celebration of all these aspects.”
Mr. Mara pointed out the WHS team has alumni mentors helping out the team this year including Ben Lewis, Tim Pitawanakawat, Jason Mishibinijima and D. J. Maingowi. As well, “Kathy Harly has taken on fundraising and logistics and is the team administrator. She has been amazing. With Kathy taking on these duties, I can focus on helping with the team with the robot design and programming.”
