LaurenHill Academy Wins Robotics Competition

Twenty six high schools, CEGEPS and technical schools from throughout the province competed this year at host Rosemere High School from February 15 to 17. LaurenHill’s robot, called Optimus Prime, started slowly, completing Day 1 in 18th place but improved with each round in the competition culminating in a dramatic victory in the finals. Congratulations to LaurenHill’s team composed of 28 students from Secondary I-V and its teacher advisors Joseph Verelli, Sal Lancione , Sharon Erskine and Tanya Alvares.

The competition is a cross curricular activity. Students must build and decorate a kiosk to use as their home base. The kiosks are equipped with all the tools necessary to repair or improve the robots following each round. Kiosks are also visited by the public and other contestants to get information about each school. Teams are also required to produce a video showing the building process for their robot while extolling the virtues of their school. A written journal must also accompany each team outlining every aspect of the competition. Finally each team must create a web site detailing the project. (Source: LaurenHill Academy)