VWHS robotics team at space museum

Van Wert independent/submitted information

WAPAKONETA — The Van Wert High School Robotics team spent the mornings of June 11 and August 11 at the Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, doing a hands-on Robotics lab with 60 students in grades 2-8.

Robotics Coach Zane McElroy, a Wapakoneta native and current VWMS Gateway to Technology teacher, was contacted by Christopher Moynihan, museum program director, and Emily Green, museum education director, to see if the team would be interested in helping out with the museum’s summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) camp. The team jumped at the opportunity.

“Anytime we can have our high school robotics team members interact with younger kids regarding STEM and robotics is a positive thing for everyone participating,” said Robotics Coach Bob Spath. “The camp kids were really into the different robots we brought over, with the highlight being every camp kid was able to drive our competition robot.”

Several Mercer and Auglaize County educators met with McElroy and Spath over the summer to discuss how best they can get an engineering program and robotics team in their own schools.

“We had nearly 20 teachers, principals and superintendents meet with us in June at the request of Jared Ebbing, Mercer County economic developer, and Rod Moorman, Mercer/Auglaize County Career Pathways coordinator,” Spath noted.

Businesses and companies are looking to fill jobs in STEM-related fields that require either a two-year or four-year engineering technology or engineering type degree.

“Van Wert City Schools is leading the way in northwest Ohio with STEM programming, beginning in the elementary and continuing through the middle school and high school,” Spath said. “Surrounding schools and counties have taken notice and are following our lead.”