Keenan Robotics

The Robo-Raiders: FIRST Team 1398

Since 2003, the Keenan high school FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Team has worked hard and continually experienced success.  Besides public service, presentations and a national literacy initiative, the team has competed in 12 regional and 4 international competitions.

During the 2003-2004 school year the Robo-Raiders received:

• The Rookie All-Star Award at the Palmetto Regional in Columbia, SC. This award qualified their attendance at the international competition.
• The Imagery Award at the Peachtree Regional in Duluth, GA. At this competition, Keenan established a compelling presence by cheering for EVERY team.
• Attended the 2004 FIRST Championships.

During the 2004-2005 school year the Robo-Raiders received:

• The Engineering Inspiration Award (The second highest award) at the Palmetto Regional in Columbia, SC, qualifying the team to attend the international competition for the second consecutive year.
• The Sprit Award at the Peachtree Regional in Duluth, GA. Note: The team also received a Judges Award at the international competition for their literacy initiative incorporating robotics.
• Attended the 2005 FIRST Championships.

During the 2005-2006 school year the team created a training video at USC and attended one regional competition.  The team received,

• Attended the Peachtree Regional Competition.
• The Chairman’s Award. This is the highest award that FIRST bestows to a team at the Palmetto Regional. The Robo-Raiders won for expanding their literacy initiative (to build better math and science media collections) and to spread the message of FIRST robotics to inform and inspire others -- to pursue technical careers. 
• 33 Regional Chairman Award winners competed at the international competition for the international Chairman’s Award.  344 teams were present at the international competition and for the second consecutive year Keenan High’s Robo-Raiders were honored with a Judges Award for their efforts in spreading the message of FIRST.  

During the 2006-2007 school year the Robo-Raiders,

• Worked with the drama department to construct four puppets for the Little Shop of Horrors show.
• Competed at both the Peachtree and Palmetto regional competitions, winning the Entrepreneurship Award at both.
• The team’s literacy efforts continued with books talks, robot puppetry and a presentation at the 2007 South Carolina Association of School Librarian Conference (SCASL).

During the 2007-2008 school year the Robo-Raiders the team received,

• Attended the 2008 Peachtree Regional Competition.
• The 2008 Chairman’s Award. This is the highest award that FIRST bestows to a team at the Palmetto Regional.
• The team attended the 2008 FIRST Robotics Championships.

During the 2008-2009 school year the Robo-Raiders accomplished a great deal,

1)      2008 Gateway Academy Summer Camp

2)      PLTW Guidance Counselor Conference at USC (presenters)

3)      The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Conference (presenters)

4)      SC Chamber of Commerce Mfg Awards Banquet (presenters)

5)      RSD1 Reading Rocks (presenters

6)      South Carolina Middle/Elementary School Academy of Science (MESAS) workshop

7)      SOUTH CAROLINA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Fall Workshop (ATTENDED)

8)      EdTech 2008 Telepresence Presentation

9)      Logan Elementary School Fall Festival (presenters)

10)  Columbia Police Athletic League (presenters)

11)  Benedict Xtreme Technology Event

12)  SC Department of Education Staff meeting (presenters)

13)  2008 Columbia FLL Regional 12/6/08 (host)

14)  AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERACY FAIR  hosted by Greater St. Luke Baptist Church

15)  Presented at Richland County Public Library on 3/14/09

This year, in addition to literacy, the Robo-Raiders have decided to include a focus on ethics.

• Prompted by reflection on the events relating to the economy
• Improve the future

We have had the privilege of working with the following Mentors:

• Don Griffith and Students from USC College of Engineering and Computing
• John and Kristan Wagner-Maynard – Electrical Engineers
• Peggy Cwiakala – Instructor at South University, Technical Writer and Public Speaking
• Kareem Beckett – Challenger Learning Center

With work was supported by

1. Grant from SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers for the 2008 Summer Camp
2. USC College of Engineering and Computing
3. Challenger Learning Center – Funded the Telepresence Project
4. CATE
5. Shakespeare Corporation
6. Square-D corporation
7. AABE: American Association of Blacks in Energy
8. Richland School District One

We would like to thank our mentors and supporters for helping to make this our best year.

The Robo-Raiders are a source of pride and excitement for WJ Keenan High school, the community at large and our distinguished alumni. We ask for your support and assistance to continue our work. Those interested in providing financial support to the Robo-Raiders  please visit the Keenan Foundation web page.