Area Students meet Gov. Tom Wolf at PA Rural Robotics Showcase at State Capitol 

Students from eleven area schools that received the PAsmart grant, and who are members of the PA Rural Robotics Initiative, traveled to the state capital today to showcase their robots and drones to Governor Tom Wolf. 

The schools in attendance that went to the capital included Franklin High School, Cranberry High School, Rocky Grove Elementary and High School, Venango Technology Center, Redbank Elementary, Dubois High School, Brookville High School, East Forest High School, West Forest High School, North Clarion High School, and RIU6.

Arriving at the capitol building in Harrisburg, students set up their robots and drones preparing a demonstration for the Governor. 

Their goal was to show Governor Tom Wolf and Deputy Secretary Matt Stem how funding given to the districts over the course of two years has impacted their lives in a way that has already surpassed their goals and will continue to shape their future endeavors, removing limits that once prevented them from succeeding.

Regarding the showcase, Governor Wolf commented, “We are here to celebrate the work of our students.” He continued with,  “Pennsylvania has the second highest investment in STEM education that prepares our students to build the workforce and open opportunities into the growing robotics field.” 

Governor Wolf’s proudest achievement of the PAsmart grant is “investing in STEM education and helping Pennsylvania students.” He continued by saying that “Investing in STEM is something that needs to be done in order to compensate for the twenty-first century workforce.”

When asked about the PAsmart grant, Deputy Secretary Matt Stem had this to add, “With the fund we’re not just limiting it to robotics, we apply it to almost any type of computer coding and programming.” 

The goal of this grant is to offer more technology based classes to schools that lack the funding to participate in the activities acquired by a robotics team. Governor Wolf gave 70 million dollars within the last two years to schools across Pennsylvania in hopes to change that.

PA Rural Robotics all began with the works of one Pennsylvania Gifted teacher from Franklin High School, Tim Heffernan. It took one willing individual to identify the capabilities of the VEX program and open doors for students of all ages across Western Pennsylvania. The initiative began with eleven public schools and is predicted to consist of twenty-nine more by the end of the school year. 

Tim Heffernan, Program Manager of the PA Rural Robotics Initiative, took on the task of managing this program with the shared interest in not only benefiting the students now, but preparing them for a future in a field where they are needed. 

Heffernan claimed, “There are three driving forces through PAsmart. We were able to first, build mobile robotic or drone labs, create professional learning opportunities for teachers, and provide dual enrollment for high school students.” He proceeded with stating “ the hundreds of people coming together for our kids creates opportunities unheard of.”

In the East Wing Rotunda of the capitol building, students readied a mock arena with blocks arranged to display how robots carry them in intricate ways. Pilots demonstrated their drones by controlling them with precision, not forgetting to later explain the difficulty of the programming. 

Students were eager to teach Governor Wolf about the different techniques as he moved from station to station. He seemed thoroughly intrigued as he interacted with students, asking questions and encouraging them to take advantage of their individual skills in order to reach their goals.

During the demonstration, students discussed the engineering and design of their robots and focused on some of the key points of critical thinking and problem solving. 

Deputy Secretary Stem commented, “It’s amazing to see kids that hadn’t had these opportunities interact with the tools and programs that allow them to further develop their knowledge.” 

Students from economically disadvantaged schools now have the potential to explore a variety of plausible jobs that are in high demand. These students are learning how to work together and problem solve while using technology. 

There are more ways to incorporate technology into the lives of students who can also have newfound access to different job dynamics than what is within reach today. 

During the press conference, Governor Wolf looked across the room to the students who are visibly affected by the initiative and simply proclaimed, “ Pennsylvania needs you to take these jobs.”

Gifting youth with this technology has drafted them for unlimited opportunities. 

Governor Wolf specifically mentioned the undeniable change in workplace dynamics referring to his past work in a sawmill and how when compared to the modern workings of a sawmill there are no similarities due to the forceful impact of technological advancements throughout society everywhere. 

Governor Wolf emphasized his point by explaining, “ Every job requires a computer; you need a computer to even apply for a job in the twenty-first century.” 

Dylan Lu, a Cranberry High School junior asserted that “Robotics has made me consider doing something like this full time as a profession.”  

When asked about how the robotics fund plans on creating more jobs, Deputy Secretary Matt Stem responded, “The goal is to fill these jobs that are computer science based by giving teachers the skills to teach students and hopefully spark them to see passion for computer science. Currently, there are 18,000 unfilled jobs relating to computer science and with this we hope to spark more potential jobs as well as filling the jobs that are not filled.”

Teachers from Cranberry High School, Brookville High School, and the Venango Technology Center offered their projections for this school year as well as what they hope to accomplish in the future with the continued support from Governor Wolf’s office. 

Cranberry High School plans to continue to compete in REC (Robotics Education and  Competition Foundation) and integrate more robotic and drone engineering or programming in cross-curricular areas. Currently, a significant portion of the curriculum in the Intro to Engineering and Technology class is dedicated to robotics and programming. Cranberry is contemplating whether or not to add coding courses in order to continually prepare students to take on the task at hand and the problem solving to come. 

This year Brookville High School looks to build their teamwork skills and inspire students to interact with one another in a way that is applicable to real life situations. They’ve increased the number of teams they have and would like to return to the state competition, staying hopeful for their chances at the world competition. 

Venango Technology Center (VTC) has a growing robotics program and plans to take on a more intense approach this year. VTC has students from computer, engineering, welding, and electric programs contributing towards their robotics team. Learning how to work together while utilizing the complex and individual skill sets at hand. Like many schools, VTC started participating in the VEX robotics program last year. Overall, they hope to excel as they have in years past.

In reference to the beginning of his career, teacher Craig Parett from East Forest High School, said, “ I did not know what I was getting myself into.” Parrett has been teaching for eleven years, two of which he has been involved in VEX. Forest’s team consists of fourteen kids or four teams that overall result in four robots. After being asked about the hardest part of the VEX program, Mr. Parrett replied, “ Having the students be willing to fail is the hardest part. They work so hard and they want their robots to be perfect the first time. Students don’t realize that it is ok to fail the first time.”  

After a brief one on one between Governor Wolf and local superintendent Bill Vonada, the superintendent elaborated on his thoughts: “Well, I want to see how he is currently feeling about his investment in the program. My goal in the end is to see if potential grants in the future could happen with this.”

Deputy Secretary Matt Stem was approached with a question in regards to further supporting the students from economically disadvantaged schools in their post secondary , and he began to talk about the overall plan to connect three key areas. The first action is revising previous grants and gearing them towards more of the rural, underdeveloped schools in Pennsylvania. Listening is the next step, asking the disadvantaged schools what it is that they need and understanding  where they really need help. The last part of the plan is to direct colleges and workplaces to accommodate the changing fields that are the future of Pennsylvania in order to prevent the need to leave the state for a job or an education. Deputy Secretary Stem wants to “incentivize businesses and state organizations to better fund rural schools.” 

We asked Governor Wolf how he plans to further assist students after high school to which he verbalized that “higher education is important,” followed by “ the technology they have now will not be the same 10 or 20 years from now. Our goal is to prepare them for this new industry in order to further the future of Pennsylvania.” 

Governor Wolf stated his end goal is “ that every person in every Pennsylvania family can have a sustaining job.”