Published: March 25, 2008 09:46 am      

Metal Mayhem advances to national competition

Ada — The first Ada area robotics team, Metal Mayhem, qualified for the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics National Competition April 17-19 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Metal Mayhem is sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation and Pontotoc Technology Center and consists of students and mentors from Ada area schools and businesses.

Students and mentors teamed up to complete a six-week robotics project that involved designing and building a robot and competing in the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City on March 20-22.

At the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition, the team was awarded the Rookie All Star Award. The Rookie All Star Award is known as the most prestigious rookie award in the robotics competition.

“We are proud of the hard work and dedication Metal Mayhem has shown with the FIRST Robotics project,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. “We congratulate them on receiving the coveted Rookie All Star Award.”

Metal Mayhem was one of 39 teams competing at the regional competition, with 17 veteran teams and 22 rookie teams. Through their efforts as a rookie team, they qualified to compete April 17-19 at the FIRST Robotics National Competition at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

Team members include Ada High School students Troy Norred, Matthew Beasley, Matthew Wright, Zac Dennis, Amber Huffman, Chantal Brown, Laura Medcalf, Garrett Thompson, Candace Williams, Nikki Stepps, Darryl Mosier, Destiny Clark, Ryan Abbott, Becca Sallee and Anna Townsend; Byng High School student Nathan Enns; Latta High School and Pontotoc Tech Center students Jeremy Wingard and Phillip Vogt; Stratford High School student Ethan Priddy; Tishomingo High School student Jacob Pittman and Vanoss High School students Jessica Nail, Destiny Hatton, Tosha Taylor and Whitney Mowles.

Team mentors include Jim Lawson, Motorcycle Parts; Stan Townsend, Parson Engineering; Rhonda Medcalf, Ada High School; Lisa Thompson, Ada High School; Ty Moore, Pontotoc Technology Center; John Impson, Vanoss High School; Larry Cheatwood, Vanoss High School; Robbie Hatton, Hatton Enterprise; Chickasaw Nation mentors Marilyn Cotz, Louise Shields and Brian Rumburg; and Chickasaw Nation Division of Education Services staff members.

The robotics project was formed through a national organization called FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs. Through the robotics program, students gain audience, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities such as self-confidence, communication and leadership.

For more information about Metal Mayhem, visit www.pontotoc.com/metalmayhem or contact the Chickasaw Nation Education Services director Lori Hamilton at (580) 421-7711.