‘High Tech Hodags’ reach new heights

Oneida County 4-H’s Lego Robotics Challenge Team, the “High Tech Hodags,” placed in the top 5 out of 16 teams at a FIRST Lego League regional competition held Nov. 2 in Appleton. The team will advance to sectionals to be held on Dec. 14 in Oak Creek, according to 4-H press release.

 4-H members on the team are Mark Currie, Trip Simmermaker, Broden Kohnhorst, Naomi Borkenhagen, Isabella Currie, Nolan Ory, Katie Thompson and Elise Williams. 

The team is coached by Anne Williams and is sponsored by the Oneida County 4-H Leaders' Association and Printpack. In addition to their advancement to sectionals, the team received the Core Values Award for displaying enthusiasm and spirit, working well together, and showing each other and other teams respect. They were also nominated for awards for their innovation project and robot design, the release states.

Oneida County 4-H partnered with FIRST Lego League to introduce science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to youth in grades 4-8 through fun hands-on learning and to offer opportunities for students to develop life skills. As part of the program, the team engaged in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering and building and programming a Lego robot that navigates the missions of a FIRST Lego League Robot Game.

The team also designed an innovative solution to a real-world problem relevant to this year’s ocean theme. For the team’s innovation project, the High Tech Hodags designed a solution that would help certain species of whales that are negatively affected by sonar training exercises in some parts of the ocean.

Williams said the team worked hard to prepare for the regional competition. When the announcement was made that the team was selected to advance, the news came as a surprise to some team members, as this was the first time the students and the coach had ever participated in a FIRST Lego League event.

“It has been rewarding to see each of these students grow since the start of the season,” said coach Williams. “Their confidence in speaking to each other and in front of others, ability to use creativity and persistence to solve problems, and to think beyond themselves becomes more noticeable every time we meet as a team. These are skills employers will be looking for as they enter the workforce.”

The public is invited to see the High Tech Hodag’s innovation project and robot game skills at the Oneida County 4-H Robotics Festival to be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Northwoods Center at Nicolet Area Technical College. 

The event is free and is open to the public. Oneida County 4-H Lego Robotics Explore teams from Three Lakes and Rhinelander will also be showcasing their team models at this event, and 4-H youth leaders will be offering STEM activities for youth of all ages.

For more information, visit https://oneida.extension.wisc.edu or call 715-365-2750.