This year TJ students will be able to join the new Robotics Club advised by Math Teacher Nick Tussing.
Artwork By: Hayden Johnson
The new addition to TJ’s math department last year, Nick Tussing, is not only performing his duties as a teacher but this semester he will also begin and advise the new TJ Robotics Club. “I love math, science, and technology, and I strongly believe that this club and the competition is a good intersection between all of them,” said Tussing.
In January 2011 Thomas Jefferson students will be able to join the Robotics Club sponsored by the National F.I.R.S.T. Foundation (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) , an organized competition for elementary, middle, high school, and college students. Tussing, a math and science major, and also a technology lover, says, “Robots are used in most productions and they are important in developing our future.”
The club will be open to any student who is interested in design, programming, building, and even marketing. “Students don’t need to just be interested in design or building; students who are in the marketing class and are interested in joining can also be a part of the group. Marketing students’ jobs will be to find sponsors for the team,” said Tussing.
The competition will allow the group of students to design and build a robot with the materials given, and the team must also have the robot perform the tasks assigned. “There are several roles for students to play, so not everyone has to know how to construct a design,” adds Tussing.
The competition will begin by the end of March when all the robots built will play games assigned, and the best robots will move on to the next competition. Like many other scholastic contests, the best teams can go on to regional and national levels. “I can’t wait until the competition begins. I’m ready to see what the finished products will look like and the joy on Mr. Tussing’s face when he sees the finished robot,” said Senior and Third Year Programming Student Aaryn Bradley. Tussing will be there to guide students through the process; he will also play a major role in helping students make connections with actual engineers and designers who can answer any of their questions.
Although the club is brand new, many students have already signed up. “I’m proud to be one of the members of the club. I’m really excited for this club and I hope it continues to grow and expand throughout the years,” said Bradley.
To become a part of the new Robotics Club, TJ students can find Tussing in room 128.
