Shamrocks Find Unique Way to Beat Winter Doldrums
February 25, 2008

With the city of Chicago suffering through one of the worst winters in recent memory, a group of Saint Patrick High School Students has found a way to combat cabin fever. The Saint Patrick Robotics Team, known as STRIKER, has spent the last six weeks, designing, building and testing a robot. Their robot will compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, an annual competition that helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering, and technology.

In this year’s game, “FIRST Overdrive,” students’ robots are designed to race around a track knocking down 40" inflated trackballs and moving them around the track, passing them either over or under a 6'6" overpass. Extra points are scored by robots positioning the trackballs back on the overpass before the end of the 2 minute and 15 second match.

On January 5 this year’s game field was unveiled for the first time, and teams received a common kit of parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation. The teams then had six weeks to design, build and test their robot for the competition. Robots had to be packed up and shipped to the competition site by February 19. A team of 20 students, along with five mentors (including two engineers), worked together four days a week for six weeks to complete the robot.

Over 37,500 high-school students on more than 1,500 teams from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the U.K., and every state in the U.S. are participating in this year’s competition. The Shamrocks will compete in the FIRST Midwest Regional, which will take place at the UIC Pavilion on February 29 and March 1.

Ed O’Connor is an engineer who has worked with Saint Patrick students as a mentor since the STRIKER program began 12 years ago. O’Connor’s experience has been invaluable as far as designing the robot goes, “they change the game every year, but they almost always include some kind of ball. So, we’ve been figuring out different ways to pick up balls for 12 years,” said O’Connor. Based on this knowledge, O’Connor was able to get to work, putting together a design that the students could begin work on immediately, which gave them a full six weeks to work on the robot. “It’s Ed’s vision, and it is our job to bring it to life,” said senior co-captain Filippo Meli.

According to O’Connor, working with a hard and fast deadline is a great learning experience for the students “I tell these guys that this is the closest thing you’ll get to having a job. We pack this thing up, and it’s not even working – with no software – just like I do in my job,” said O’Connor.

Over six weeks of working together in close proximity, the students and mentors develop bonds similar to that of a family. O’Connor’s wife Leslie serves as the team’s “spirit coordinator.” She helps with aesthetics, and her feminine touch really contributes to the family atmosphere that the team enjoys. “They are just such nice people. Ed is kind of like a grandpa, and Leslie is the STRIKER mom,” said senior co-captain Jeremy Schultz.

The team has adopted the theme of “Green Man Group” for this year’s competition. In 2006, they were recognized with the Imagery Award at the Midwest Regional. The theme that year was “The Blues Brothers” with students dressed up like Jake and Elwood Blues from the 1980 film starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

This year’s team features seven co-captains: Konrad Andrejczuk, Michal Chorzepa, Frank Gullo, Filippo Meli, Aldynne Glanton, Chris Gonzalez, Jeremy Schultz. The other members of the team are: James Barron, Steve Bieszczat, Joey Calvaresi, Jimmy Kaucher, Michael Kratochvil, Kevin Lodwich, Matt McCoy, Daniel Mueller, Jeff Piotrowski, Brian Rachmaciej, Antonio Ramirez, Arthur Wawrzyczek, and Tim Palermo. Schultz, Chorzepa and Gullo have all been involved with STRIKER for four years.

STRIKER started at Saint Patrick High School in 1997, when the FIRST Program was brought to Saint Patrick by alumnus Ray Kedzior, president of Lodan Electronics.

In 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition began with 28 teams and a single 14 x 14 foot playing field in a New Hampshire high school gym. This season, more than 1,500 teams – including a record 316 rookie teams – will participate. Forty-one regional competitions will lead up to the 2008 FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 17-19.

Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. Research has shown that FIRST has significantly improved students’ attitudes about math and science and has fostered a culture of teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence. FRC participants are eligible to apply for over $9.5 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges, and companies. In addition, interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring companies has increased.