DCS robotics team speaks at LaSTEM council meeting

Students from Delhi Charter School’s junior high robotics teams demonstrated their creations at the LaSTEM advisory council meeting in Baton Rouge. 

The DCS teams, which include students Dalton Branch, Ashton Harrell, Jenny Wright, Nate Kirkland, Jacob Hosea, Payton Greer, and Cameron Fuller, were asked about their experiences winning last season’s VEX IQ robotics state championship and competing at the VEX robotics world championship last April. 

Among the luminaries that the students conversed with were District 1 Senator Sharon Hewitt, founder of the LaSTEM advisory council and Dan Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation.  

The Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council (LaSTEM) under the auspices of the Board of Regents is tasked to coordinate and oversee the creation, delivery, and promotion of STEM education programs, to increase student interest and achievement in the fields of STEM, to ensure the alignment of education, economic development, industry, and workforce needs, and to increase the number of women who graduate from a postsecondary institution with a STEM degree or credential.

This year the DCS robotics program continues to grow in exciting new directions.  In addition to fielding four high school and four middle school teams this year, for the first time ever DCS will field all-girls teams in both high school and middle school VEX divisions.  Also for the first time, this spring DCS will build a submersible robot to compete in the aquatic MATE robotics competition at the Dauphin Island research center in Alabama.  

STEM careers make up the highest earning and fastest growing sector of the labor economy.  However, currently women only make up 24 percent of the STEM workforce.  To help bridge the gender gap in STEM, DCS will be hosting a free girls-only STEM camp on Saturday, October 13th from 8 AM to noon.  

Activities will include making foam slime, creating electric circuits, teamwork challenges, and a Q&A session with STEM professionals.  

Girls in grades 3 through 8 are invited to attend, but space is limited.  Parents can register for the camp at robotevents.com.  

For more information about DCS robotics, contact Eric Vidrine at eric.vidrine@delhicharterschool.org.