The Galactic Builders series is a partnership between Lucasfilms, Disney, and FIRST, a student robotics organization that challenges students to build a competition robot to perform a series of competitive tasks and compete with other teams around the state and globe.
Through the FIRST program, Frenship High School's Iron Tigers were recognized and featured in an episode of the Galactic Builders that aired internationally on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel. Class of 2021 Iron Tigers team members, Mark Dannemiller and Skyler Dempsey, were interviewed to discuss the Star Wars Droids they built last school year.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE EPISODE
FHS Robotics club sponsor and coach Nancy Schunke is a member of the droid building community, as well as a FIRST coach.
“First and foremost, it's great to see our kids in this video because it is great recognition for the hard work they have put into this program,” Schunke said. “Seeing their team featured in a platform like this will help our students see that what they are doing is special. We compete against teams from big cities, some teams are mentored by actual robotics companies as well. I think that sometimes our students don't see that they can be just as competitive, even in a small West Texas town.”
Last year, the Iron Tigers were unable to compete in any in-person events, but were able to compete virtually throughout the year through team interviews and videos of their bots performing various tasks and completing standardized obstacle courses.
Over the summer, the group was able to compete in-person at the State Robotics Competition where they took the gold and came home State Robotics Champions.
“Many people think that our robotics competition is just about building a robot, but it is far more,” Schunke said. “Yes, our students learn to design and build a robot, but they also operate like a business. Because of this, they must learn how to run and promote their business as well. They learn how to create a business plan, develop marketing strategies, get involved in outreach, and many more employability skills. Students have to learn how to give business presentations and perform in multiple interviews as well.”
FHS Robotics club sponsor and coach James Holloway said that being able work with this huge project was a great opportunity for two of his most talented students, as well as him and Schunke.
“Being able to work on a project with Lucas Films and Disney was like a dream come true,” Holloway said. ”I have been a huge fan of Star Wars since I was six years old, and being able to have my students being highlighted in a special project I guess you could say was a ‘proud dad moment.’ It was fun getting to see their excitement and nervous jitters; but both of them knocked it out of the park. Once it was completed, we were all in awe, realizing this was something so cool that we got to be a part of, but also knowing this would go global and highlight our team for others to see around the world.”
Holloway agreed with Schunke on the fact that opportunities like these, as well as the FIRST competitions, prepare students for life outside of high school.
“We have seen that the students who have been a part of the FIRST program have 100% college acceptance into a College of Engineering at major universities over the last seven years,” Holloway said. “Many have walked into engineering fields straight out of high school from the skills they have learned.”
Holloway said that because of the FIRST program his students become well-rounded business people.
“FIRST Robotics is an amazing program; it builds public speakers, collaborators, problem solvers, an opens up the door for them to learn about finances, program infrastructure, fundraising, design skills, mechanical engineering, computer programming, as well as learning how to work with diverse individuals and teams with different skill sets,” Holloway said. “I see tremendous growth from first year participants to fourth year participants, not only in their skill levels, but in their confidence. The founder of the FIRST organization has a saying that I love and model my teaching by, ‘We just don’t build robots, we use robots to build students.’”