PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

Team 2481 robotics students at Tremont High School

Another Tremont team member, Luke Tucker, a 14-year-old homeschooler, sized up the program succinctly: “You learn practical skills for later in life in a fun environment.” With kids from East Peoria, Morton, Pekin and Mackinaw, the Tremont team involves students from throughout the area. “If a student wants to participate in robots, we’re open to it,” said Martin. THE COMPETITION INTENSIFIES Tremont isn’t the only robotic power house in central Illinois. “Competition here is escalating,” said Martin. Area teams with names like Robot Casse role and Icarus compete along with squads from Limestone, Washington and Metamora. While Matt Draear serves as coach of the Tremont team, Brian Stoecker, an engineering teacher at Metamora Township High School, coaches a team that’s been competing for 12 years. Up to 47 students have participated. “Usually, we have around 40 on the team,” said Stoecker. “I think kids are

starting to see the benefits of the program,” he said. The Metamora squad breaks into teams to work on different aspects of the project in preparing for a competition, said Stoecker. “One team might focus on the chassis and drive train, another on the arm or claw. We also have a team that deals with media and the business side, such as going after sponsorships.” Like Martin, Stoecker credited expe rienced mentors such as Ryan Shoff for helping students work on the project each year. Preparing for the robotics competition can take up a lot of time, said Stoecker so efforts are made to ensure kids don’t get overloaded. “Some teams meet right after school. Others meet later. We try to make sure that kids get days off,” he said. Having played high school sports himself, Stoecker feels athletics definitely help develop an individual. “But there’s a different atmosphere here,” he said of the First Robotics program. “You have to work well with the other team. It’s important to be cordial with everyone involved because

the team you’re playing against one day may be your partner the next.” The robotics program is also some thing for a student to put on his or her résumé, said Stoecker. “Metamora’s a big athletic school but how many pro athletes do we develop? First Robotics has a great record in turning out people that become engineers,” he said. Katie Hunt, 18, spent four years on the Metamora robotics team but wasn’t in volved in constructing a robot. Instead, she helped set up an outreach program for the team using social media. She’ll be attending the University of Missouri in the fall. “My brother was on the (Metamora) team before me and I started attending competitions,” she said. “I was hooked. Everyone’s working together.”

Steve Tarter is a frequent Peoria Magazine contributor who has spent a career in journalism and public relations

JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 31