PLUM ROBOTICS SCORES NATIONALLY

Plum, PA - After taking first place in the Southwestern PA BotsIQ Competition in 2007 and in 2008, Plum Senior High School robotics team members traveled to Miami Beach, Florida to compete in the National BotsIQ Competition. Their robots Aftershock and Shockwave II placed second and third in the field of 70 teams and had a very impressive combined 11-2 record. The National BotsIQ Competition took place April 30 - May 4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Team advisor, Rick Volker and team members Cody Harris, Joe Kotvas, Anthony Petricca, Allen Thompson, and Alex Udanis made the trip to Miami Beach. Petricca and Udanis are in 10th grade at Plum Senior High School while Harris, Kotvas and Thompson are seniors at the school. Udanis served as the team captain as well as the bot driver. They received sponsorship and technical support from many area companies in order to prepare for the regional and national competitions.

Plum has seen much robotic success over the last two years. In the Southwestern PA regional competition, Plum's winning team went undefeated in this year's event. After coming in first place at last year's regional event, Plum traveled to Florida for the National Competition and finished in 8th place in the 15-pound robot class.

BotsIQ is a gladiator-style competition of student-made, remote-controlled robots. Students love BotsIQ because it makes education fun- drawing on their knowledge of math, science, engineering and even public speaking. Educators love BotsIQ because of the enthusiasm it sparks in their students and the resources it provides to their classroom. But, it's the manufacturing industry that is standing behind this new sport because of the potential impact it has on business. Young people who are interested in how things are made are the future of the high-tech manufacturing workforce.

This year 32 teams from 28 high schools and career & technology centers, backed by a committed group of educators and manufacturers designed 15-pound robots to compete in the 3rd Annual Southwestern PA BotsIQ Competition which took place on March 28 - 29, 2008 at the Century III Mall. The next regional competition is scheduled to take place April 24 - 25, 2009 at the Century III Mall.

More information and photos of BotsIQ are available at www.BotsIQpa.org and at www.BotsIQ.org.