ROBOTICS

Robotics is a hands-on, innovative and fun program designed to engage students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) while developing social/emotional skills for teamwork and collaboration. The focus is on getting students excited about acquiring skills that will help them in college and the workforce. 

This past year, Aspen High School sent 3 teams to the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics state championship at Mountain Range High School in Denver. The top 31 Colorado teams competed and our AHS teams excelled. Robo Yetis placed 13th overall and the Backcountry team placed 15th overall and 2nd for the Collins Aerospace Innovate award. The Black Forest team placed 1st overall and qualified for the Worlds competition. This is the first time that an Aspen team has won an overall robotics competition at the state level. These experiences are life-changing for our students.

Robotics is also offered in the elementary and middle schools. Aspen Middle School students compete in the FIRST Lego League and was represented at states by two teams who advanced from the regional competition. Those two eighth grade teams placed in the top 20 in the state, and Black Forest 2.0 won the first place trophy for Inspiration and Gracious Professionalism. We are so proud of them.

Despite the challenges with Covid, our Robotics teams are progressing and preparing for this year’s rounds of competition. We are sure they will be very successful! Stay tuned…

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Years of robotics education in the school district
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# students in robotics or exploratory classes
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Average # hours logged per high school robotics team member this year

ROBOTICS ENDOWMENT

At AEF, we want to ensure that this program never gets cut from the school budget. We NEED your help. For the last seven years, we have supported the growing FIRST Robotics programs now available in all schools. Whether you are passionate about innovation, engineering or engaging girls in STEM, PARTNER with us as we raise up future science and technology leaders. Give to our endowment – if we reach $750,000, we will be able to provide robotics to all future generations!

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“Students become builders, engineers and problem solvers while learning programming skills and fostering creativity. They struggle through conflicts, deal with failure, learn about problems in the community, and then take part in a public exhibition. I have had students tell me it was the most significant experience in middle school, and many have gone on to engineering and other STEM programs because they realized their passion for the subject.”

Caroline Hanson, Aspen Middle School Enrichment Coordinator and STEM Teacher

“It’s not just about learning to engineer and program. There are so many life skills that go into this. We all get attached to our own ideas for the robot. When there are disagreements, we have learned to reflect and remember that we are working together for a common goal.”

Tatum Johnson, AHS student

WISHLISTS

The needs of the robotics program include:

  • More material and parts to build and repair robots
  • Travel and registration fees for tournaments
  • Additional staff to support program growth

ROBOTICS PHOTOS