MATTAWA — A robotics team from Wahluke High School has qualified for the world robotics competition in Louisville, Kentucky, that was originally set for the end of April. Five students that competed at the state level talked to the Wahluke School Board on Tuesday, March 10, during a regular board meeting.

Robotics adviser John Ellsworth said this is the first time that Wahluke students get to go to worlds.

“There are students and teams from around the world,” Ellsworth said. “It’s like the Olympics of robotics. I am super proud of how well these guys did this year. Their perseverance was tremendous.”

“Thank you for supporting us through all these years,” Victor Quintaro said.

During their portion of the meeting, the students shared how they got into robotics and how it is impacting their future.

Quintaro told the board that through robotics, he has expanded his passion for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. After high school, he would like to pursue some form of civil engineering.

Abraham Gonzalez, said that he had joined various STEM-related programs, but didn’t feel that he was putting his skills to work. Robotics team members convinced him to check out robotics. Their enthusiasm inspired him to stay. Gonzalez is passionate about construction and design.

“Robotics has helped me make up my mind about what I want to do in life,” Gonzalez said.

Audiel Mendez first joined robotics in eighth grade and continued into high school. He has been interested in robotics since he was little and sees himself continuing in this or similar fields in the future.

Antonio Mendoza was introduced to robotics by one of the other members of the robotics team four years ago.

“I like to build things with my hands,” Mendoza said.

Because of other activities, Mendoza left robotics for a time, but has since come back. He also is interested in engineering after high school. Robotics has helped him figure out that building and designing is something he likes doing.

Salvador Godoy joined robotics after seeing the other guys on the robotics team having fun.

“I have had the time of life,” Godoy said. “I want to make this my career.”

Godoy said he programs the robots using the programming languages Python and C++, the same languages that the tech industry uses. As he heads into a career, he will be able to rely on his robotics experience to program other devices.

Ellsworth said he thinks the biggest advantage of the robotics program is the professionalism that the students learn.

“They can stand proud and tall,” Ellsworth said. “People were surprised that Wahluke brought three teams to state.”

Some of the schools who brought 60 students to state did not place in the top 20, whereas one Wahluke team did.

Worlds was supposed to be held toward the end of April in Louisville, but was canceled due to COVID-19. Before the students could go, they needed to raise $10,000 to cover their expenses and had already started before the cancellation. As of last Tuesday’s meeting, Mendoza, who was not planning to attend worlds, had raised approximately $4,000.