Springdale ‘GearHogs’ a winner in robotics challenge

After three days of feverish competition at the University of Arkansas Barnhill Arena, organizers of the Razorback Regional FIRST Robotics Competition crowned the winners of the science and engineering challenge Saturday.

After competing with 42 teams of high school students from Arkansas and seven states in the region, the Springdale High School GearHogs will be one of six teams to battle the world's best 400 teams at the FRC World Championship in St. Louis later this month.

Five other teams, from Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, are going to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) championship.

In only six weeks, teams of students and mentors invented and built 150-pound robots to compete in this year's "Ultimate Ascent" Frisbee challenge, in which robots scored points by tossing discs into several possible goals and climbing pyramids, according to the FRC manual.

Seventeen Arkansas high school teams competed this year, compared to three teams in 2012, said Chase Rainwater, event co-chairman and UA engineering professor.

"Several things had to come together for that to happen," he said.

Over the years, mentors from the successful team of Mountain Home, Ark., have shared their robotics knowledge and enthusiasm with the rest of the state. Additionally, the amount of money from sponsors has increased. The involvement of UA administration, faculty and volunteers also helped ensure the success of the inaugural regional finals in Arkansas, Rainwater said.

FRC rules limit the amount of money a team can spend on their robot to $4,000, much of which comes from sponsors.

"Not finding enough funding can hold a team back," said Stephanie Sandoval, Springdale High School junior and GearHogs team member. "You have to show sponsors and the community the passion you feel for FIRST," she said.

Each year features a different challenge for teams' robots, meant to "combine the practical application of science and technology with the fun, intense energy and excitement of a championship sporting event," according to FIRST. The atmosphere can be compared to Razorback sporting events, Rainwater said.

With the precipitous decline of U.S. students' science and math standardized test scores, FIRST events "help students understand why they're being asked to perform at a high level," Rainwater said. "Students get a chance to be partnered with successful people as mentors," he said. Mentors are usually engineers and teachers. The Springdale team has more than ten mentors, said math teacher and mentor Todd Taylor.

Students are rewarded for participation in the FRC in several ways. FIRST will give more than $16 million in scholarships, said FIRST founder Dean Kamen in his awards ceremony speech. Along with awards for design, teamwork, sportsmanship, entrepreneurship, safety, team spirit and competitive play, students gain valuable experience.

"Before FIRST, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life," said Celina Bustamante, Springdale High School senior and veteran GearHogs team member. "I went from knowing little about engineering to being able to teach my younger teammates, and I'm proud of that.”

The demands of school, a job and almost 20 hours a week devoted to robotics meant time management was one lesson Bustamante had to master.

"It's time-consuming but it's worth it because we're doing something we love, and we're like family," she said.

Bustamante plans on pursuing a career in electrical engineering while mentoring for FIRST.

The regional competition was sponsored by the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, Baxter International and Arkansas FIRST. Approximately 60,000 high school students around the world are participating in the 2013 FRC, according to FIRST.

"I'm ready for next year," Sandoval said. "Everyone gets annoyed with me because right after robotics season is over I start counting down the days until the next one."