A team of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School students competed in the Hawai‘i Regional Botball Tournament earlier this month, and took home the Judges’ Choice award for “Biggest Claw” for their robot Daisy Duke. Out of 25 high- and middle-school teams
A team of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School students competed in the Hawai‘i Regional Botball Tournament earlier this month, and took home the Judges’ Choice award for “Biggest Claw” for their robot Daisy Duke.
Out of 25 high- and middle-school teams from across the state, nation and globe, they placed 11th overall.
The students are given a few weeks to design, build and program a team of robots, and prepare them for the competition.
Once there, their robots competed against other 4-inch-by-8-inch robots to maneuver around a game board.
The team showcased its robots earlier in the year at the annual Kaua‘i Technology Fair at the Kaua‘i Community College Technology Center.
The team of students consists of Tanner Martiney, Travis Navarro, John Delos Santos, Don-avan Riopta, John Lumabao, Kyle Rynda, Ashley Bonilla, Britney Bonilla and Jamison Habermann.
Teachers involved were Denice Mugg and Brenda Carvalho. Gerald Hirata, a computer instructor at Kaua‘i Community College, served as a mentor.
Sponsors of the team, The BotZ of HaZZard, included The KISS Institute, Esaki Surveying & Mapping, The Home Depot, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Big Save, KCC, Kukui‘ula Development, Kauai Realty and All Star Realty.
Team members recently received a banner from U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-urban O‘ahu, which is on display in the school robotics laboratory, and will then be sent to Japan to another participating school, Mugg said.
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
