Page 4 - MidWeek West - March 29, 2023

4 MARCH 29, 2023
Assets School’s Robotics Teams Feature Multiple West O‘ahu Residents
FROM PAGE 1
petition) at the high school,” shares Han. “Our program and our team are still really young and new to the robot- ics community so we still have a lot to learn.”
ics team is almost like a small company. Our students learn to collaborate with each oth- er as a team improving their communication skills and problem-solving skills. They are also tasked with raising funds themselves so they actively communicate with adults and learn the business aspects of life.”
team’s name comes from the fact that they eat waffles to- gether before each robotics league meet.
Han says he initially brought the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Program to Assets in 2018 as an ex- tracurricular activity. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recog- nition of Science and Tech- nology) is a national pro- gram. At the time, there were only 10 students enrolled.
Assets School’s sec- ond robotics team, MEAF (Metal Engineering Assets Flamingos), also ended the season in the semifinals and finished the season ranked fourth. The team includes junior Jordan McKenzie of ‘Ewa Beach.
Assets School is having a virtual auction for gener- al tuition assistance that is open to the public. It goes live from 6 p.m. April 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 15. All mon- ies raised will go to tuition assistance for families who needfinancialaid.Theon- line auction coincides with the school’s Illumination Gala from 5 to 9 p.m. April 15 at The Pacific Club.
Now at Assets, the program has grown to include nearly 40 students with three coaches and mentors: Han, Miles Ya- mamotoandEmiHagiwara.
“It was actually Team Waffles that started and coached Team MEAF three years ago due to an increase in student interest. Team MEAF is the younger team but they show tons of poten- tial,” says Han.
AssetsSchool’sTeamWafflesposeforaphoto.Theteam’suniquenameisanodtothewafflestheyliketoeatbefore each robotics league meet. PHOTO COURTESY ASSETS SCHOOL
“We’ve also expanded the Robotics Program now to participate in FLL (FIRST Lego League) for the K-8 school and both FTC and FRC (FIRST Robotics Com-
rie is extended even beyond Team Waffles won by col-
the team. The robotics games laborating with Team X-bots
are played in a two-versus- from Punahou School, who isn’t just about being in two alliance format, and will be joining them in the STEM,” says Han. “A robot-
In FIRST Robotics, it’s all about collaboration and teamwork — this camarade-
world championships. “Being in a robotics team
For more information, visit assets-school.org.
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