For two days later this month the gymnasium at Monroe High School will be the hub of high-school rabotics in Michigan as Monroe High School hosts the Michigan’s Advanced Tobotics Competition (MARC) on June 19 and 20. MHS has hosted this early summer robotics classic for about the last five years.
“We will have more than 40 teams competing and we will have schools from several states. Some of these teams will come hundreds of miles to be with us,” said Mike Mountain, Monroe High School electronics teacher and robotics team coach. “This is a great spectactor sport to see what these kids have developed and admission is free.”
Qualifying matches will run all day Friday, June 19, from 11:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and then from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. Championship matches are scheduled from 2:30 pm. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. An awards ceremony will be held immediately following the competition.
“Competitive robotics has become a cultural phenomenon in education involving all ages,” said Jeff Demaray, team mentor for Team Virus 3547, a team including students from around the county. “The MARC features teams of high school students guided by mentors, teachers, coaches and parents building robots that weigh up to 120 pounds competing in this year’s Recycle Rush.”
“The kids who you will see compete in this are the ones who one day will be the next generation of engineers, designers and scientists. A number of them will go on to achieve substantial scholarships from colleges and universities,” Mr. Mountain said. “One of the nicest things about robotics from a spectator standpoint is that you really don’t have to understand much about robotics scoring to enjoy watching these colorful machines, and the kids who designed and are controlling them.”
Host teams for the event are Monroe Trojan Robotics 1528, Dundee Vi-Borgs 4395, Tempest 240 from Jefferson High School and Virus 3547 which meets at Monroe County Community College and includes students from around Monroe County.
Spring 2015 was the first administration of the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). With the completion of the testing window, the Michigan Department of Education would like to invite feedback from parents of students in grades 3 – 8, and 11 who took the M-STEP. The short survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/spring2015M-STEPparentsurvey
Please complete and submit the survey no later than June 19, 2015.
Congratulations to Lincoln Elementary School Alumnus Jonathon Brown who is one of two recipients of a $500 scholarship from the former Lincoln School group. The other recipient is George Vasquez. Although Lincoln School closed in 2009, its last staff established a scholarship fund of such size that it will last until every child who attended Lincoln has graduated from Monroe High School. Accepted at eight major universities, Jonathon plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology to major in mathematics and astrophysics.The MHS National Honor Society president, a summa cum laude graduate and a senior scholar, Jonathon also was on the Southeastern Conference All-Academic team. He was captain of the wrestling team. He was MHS’ Upward Bound Student of the Year for 2014 and an Upward Bound Outstanding Student Leader.
Congratulations to Waterloo Elementary School alumnus Matthew Evans who is this year’s winner of a $500 scholarship from Waterloo School. He plans to attend Central Michigan University to study meteorology. This is the third year that Waterloo has awarded a scholarship to a former student who graduates from Monroe High School. Matthew was a summa cum laude graduate and a senior scholar. He was a member of the Calculus Club and joined the National Honor Society in 2013. He was treasurer for both organizations in his senior year. A Lotus Leaf reporter and editor since his junior year, he also was the weather forecaster in the morning announcements.
Congratulations to Lincoln Elementary School Alumnus George Vasquez who is one of two recipients of a $500 scholarship from the former Lincoln School group. The other is Jonathon Brown. Although Lincoln School closed in 2009, its last staff established a scholarship fund of such size that it will last until every child who attended Lincoln has graduated from Monroe High School. George graduates with a 3.5 GPA and plans to attend Everest University in Florida to be certified as a pharmacist technician.
Here is a reminder – as if your kids would let you forget. The last day of the 2014-2015 school year will be this Friday, June 5, and students will have a one-hour early release. It’s always nice to get a one-hour jump on summer vacation. Have a safe summer everyone and we will see you back at Monroe Public Schools when school resumes on September 8.
Monroe High School junior-to-be Sven Wollschlaeger has been nominated by former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston, MA, June 28-June 30.
The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The Congress aims to inspire, motivate, honor and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, providing them a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goals.
“We are extremely proud of Sven for being chosen to represent Michigan and Monroe High School at this very important Congress,” said Monroe High School Principal Valerie Orr. “As the president of the Class of 2017, a member of the student council, secretary of the National Honor Society and an Ignition mentor, he is one of our campus leaders. This is great opportunity for him to start to fulfill his dreams for after graduation.”
During the three-day Congress, Sven will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners talk about leading scientific research; receive advice from deans of the world’s top technological universities, be inspired by fellow teen science prodigies; and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future of science and technology.
As he prepares to attend the Congress after school is out for the summer, Sven thanked several businesses, organizations and people for supporting his nomination. They are Mrs. Valerie Orr, Mr. Jeff McVeigh, Mrs. Sandra Michels, Monroe High School Student Council, Monroe High School Athletic office, Attorney Cheryl Sweeney, River Bank Wealth Management, Electric Beach Tanning and his parents, John and Corina Mignano.MHS junior selected for STEM COnghress
Monroe High School freshman Christopher Braden, 15, gets help from his teacher Morgan Kottke as he wears his Michigan Week Quality of Life medal for the first time. Christopher was nominated by Ms. Kottke because of his activities in Boy Scout Troop 743 and his work as a Sunday School Youth Leader at St. Mary’s Church. Christopher also is a member of Monroe High School’s award-winning concert and marching bands. Also during recent Michigan Week activities, the MHS Allies in Monroe (AIM) program was recognized with a Community Leadership Award. AIM is an innovative mentoring program designed to enhance student achievement, increase the number of students furthering their education after high school and improve student-staff relationships. Students who achieve their goals and improve their GPA by at least 15 percent in a trimester can earn a $200 scholarship check from the program.
Orchard Center High School will hold its graduation exercises for the Class of 2015 at 7 p.m., Tuesday (June 2) in the Monroe High School Auditorium. All are invited and no tickets are required.
If you were not able to make it out to the Monroe High School graduation -- or if you were and you would like to see it again -- check out this link. Enjoy