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​Robotics skills propel students toward engineering future

<p>Cristo Rey science teacher Ann McGowan started a robotics&nbsp;team, known as Kinematic Wolves, last year.</p>

Cristo Rey science teacher Ann McGowan started a robotics team, known as Kinematic Wolves, last year.

Detroit Cristo Rey High School formed its robotics team only a year ago, but as the team starts its second season, some students say that their experience with robotics has inspired them to make engineering their life’s work.

Cristo Rey science teacher Ann McGowan started the team, known as Kinematic Wolves, last year.

“The team gives students an opportunity to learn more about science, engineering, individual classmates and exploring problem solving,” said McGowan. Before robotics, the participants were oblivious to engineering and the skills they can gain from it.

Haley Montesinos, a junior at Cristo Rey, has been on the team since its start. Robotics has helped Montesinos and her teammates build confidence and learn to ask questions, she said. But most importantly, it’s helped her decide engineering is the career she wants to pursue.

“Engineering is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” she said.

Robotics is more than building robots, Montesinos added. It’s “building a community of innovation and creativity, to inspire kids everywhere to pursue whatever they want.”

As the students developed a passion for robotics, they also faced challenges, Richard Zarate, a junior at Cristo Rey, said.

“We had many obstacles during our first season, even one of our fellow classmates passing away,” he said.

The students didn’t know what to expect and questioned if they wanted to continue robotics while they mourned the loss of senior Cortez Burrell.

But the team members prevailed and successfully built their first robot “The Hot Chick,” finishing the season off strong. Through every trial, the students still enjoy their work and plan on using their robotics skills in the future.

“I want to become a petroleum engineer, and I believe robotics will play a huge role in my future and career,” said Zarate.

Last year, the students were challenged to build a robot that could stack totes and recycling bins on top of each other. The team won the Rookie All-Star award at the Southfield competition. That directly qualified them to go to States. Now the Kinematic Wolves are working on their second robot to prepare for their competition, March 4-5.

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