Students Put Energy Into Lego Robots

It didn’t take much arm-twisting to get 25 Crespi Carmelite High School freshmen and sophomores interested in building robots for a nationwide after-school science program. The students are so eager to work on their computer-programmed creations that their teacher has to boot them out the door of the Encino school every afternoon.

The Crespi scientists, along with students from Nobel and Holmes middle schools in Northridge and Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth, will demonstrate their technological skills at the first annual For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Lego League robotics competition. It will be held Dec. 4 at Legoland in Carlsbad.

The students are constructing their robots out of Lego pieces and writing the computer program that will direct them.

“This is where we’re going in the 21st century,” said Julie Kadlec, the Crespi physical sciences teacher in charge of the project at her school. “The kids are entranced, not just with the building process, but with seeing the robot actually working.”

The students received a Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System kit recently, which offered them a scientific challenge that simulates a real-life event, such as rescuing an astronaut stranded outside a space station. They have six weeks to create a robot capable of unlocking a hatch to let the astronaut back in.

“This program brings science and technology to students in a very hands-on manner,” said Jerry Reimers, Boeing Co. information technology administrator and program manager for the Crespi teams. “This type of program grabs the students’ attention.”

KUDOS

Top Scholars: It’s hard to imagine that Diana Hong had time for any extra-curricular activities last year. But somehow, the North Hollywood High School senior managed to edit the school newspaper and serve as president of the speech and debate club, on top of attaining the highest score possible on 17 of her 21 Advanced Placement exams. Hong will be honored as the No. 1 scholar in the nation by the College Board’s National Forum in San Diego, which begins Tuesday. The National Merit Scholar and class valedictorian will join schoolmate Tyler Rubin, last year’s top AP junior, at the College Board’s annual luncheon Oct. 29, where Hong will deliver a keynote address.

The students were invited to bring along the educator who most influenced their academic careers. Hong, who is enrolled in the prestigious Huntsman Program in International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, has asked Kailim Toy, her history teacher, to accompany her to the six-day forum. Tyler is bringing AP music teacher Jay Gehringer.

Talking Shop: The automotive training program at San Fernando High School recently received certification in brakes, engine performance and other systems by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. The program, which is supervised by teacher Russell Martin, is one of only 12 statewide that has earned the certification.

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