Robo Day 2019 is in the record books for students in Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei States. After a year of training, planning, and strategizing, students from participating high schools in each of these states met to exhibit their skills in the spirit of friendly competition. For Chuuk and Pohnpei, Robo Day 2019 represented their first year of participation in the Habele Robo League. While Yap State has blazed a trail with robotics for over five years now, their Robo Day competition also saw new faces. Neighboring Islands Central High School (NICHS) from remote Woleai Atoll, and Yap International Christian School both fielded teams for the first time.
Despite the recent introduction to robotics for the majority of participants, the level of engagement, innovation, and excitement is extremely high. Students have thrown themselves into the training- and into the spirit of competition - with energy that is a pleasure to watch. From state to state, these competitions showed real diversity of robot design and strategy. Schools are making the league their own, and personalizing their experience. It's wonderful to see. One of the most noticeable elements of all three Robo Day competitions is the clear partnership and support between the teams. Everyone participating wants to see their peers from other schools succeed. This was demonstrated in cheering for other teams during competition, lending tools and parts, and jumping in to lend a hand when another team needed technical support. The Yap Robo League deserves a word of commendation for the ownership shown by the students. Their Student Leadership Team was instrumental in planning out the details of Yap Robo Day, and actually running the event. These young people are clearly mastering more than robotics! Now that students in Chuuk and Pohnpei have a full year of Robo League under their belts, it will be exciting to see what they come up with in the next year. Based on their tremendous success in the pilot year of the program, great things are ahead.
These exceptional events would not take place without the tremendous amount of work and care invested by school administrators, teachers, coaches, departments of education and community partners. It is the hours put in behind the scenes by these fine folks that helps really bring an opportunity like the Robo League to life for the young people. After seeing the smiling faces of the students operating their robots, holding up their medals, or taking a "Champions" trophy home to their school, it is not a mystery why our partners work so hard to support the Robo Leagues.On to the Robo Day Results!
Yap State
1st Place - Outer Islands High School
2nd Place - Neighboring Islands Central High School
3rd Place - Yap Catholic High School
Chuuk State
1st Place - Xavier High School
2nd Place - Chuuk High School
3rd Place - Saramen Chuuk Academy
Pohnpei State
1st Place - Nanpei Memorial High School
2nd Place - Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
3rd Place - Ponphei Island Central School
We join with our partners in congratulating all the students who competed in Robo Day 2019. Each and every of them gave it their best work, and it was obvious to everyone in attendance.
As of now, Kosrae State remains the only state in the FSM not participating in the Habele Robo League. Our hope is to bring the same opportunities to students in Kosrae soon. Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US-based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. The Habele Robo League is made possible by a grant from the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.
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