Robotics team is growing with aspirations

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer

WEST SPRINGFIELD On Dec. 12 members of the West Springfield Robotics Team (WSRT) joined by their director, Jim Queen, will go in front of the School Committee for permission to travel for competition and a request for funding to support the team.

"We must get permission to go beyond the 150 miles for a school trip," Queen said. "The team will also be present because I would like the Committee to see the value of the program for the students," he added.

WSRT recently received space in the West Springfield High School (WSHS) at the location of the former shop area. They were previously located in the basement of the Cowing Elementary School for the last 4 1?2 years, since their beginning.

Queen pointed out that the new location is better because the ground floor makes it possible to transport robots; it is a larger room; has a higher ceiling; and is convenient because the members are all students at WSHS and Queen is a teacher there.

"They [School Committee] provide space but not funding," Queen said. "We obtain are own buses if we are going to Hartford."

WSRT will be going to Hartford and Florida the second and third weeks of March to participate in robotics competitions.

"Two years ago there were only ten or 12 students on the team. I drove and it was no real cost," Queen said. "Now we have 30 kids and we have to get a bus."

If funding is not received from the School Committee Queen and club members must continue to pay for their buses and other incidentals that they may incur.

"We want to be looked at like other athletics teams and organizations at the school and receive funding like they do," Queen said.

Ways that Queen tries to lessen the burden for team members is by having them raise money through cookie dough drives such as the one they just completed and other fundraisers they can participate in. "The profits of the fundraisers are allocated to the students for their travel accounts," Queen said. In the fall the WSRT meets once a week. In the winter, their building and training season they meet more often.

This year's kick-off takes place Jan. 6.