Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School – West Robotics Club
Tech Titans Team awarded first place and qualify for state tournament in February 2017
West Robotics Club Tech Titans Team; back row: Michael Castellano, Principal; Harry Zarcadoolas, Stanley Pierre (captain), Adesola Adimula, Fermin Vasquez/teacher and team sponsor/coach; front row: Jason Jaquith and Gustavo Salama.
By Valerie Lockwood Moran
PEMBROKE PINES, FL– The Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School- West Robotics Club Tech Titans team- was awarded first place for Best Design at the First Annual Junior Orange Bowl Vex IQ Qualifier in Miami Springs 2016 Competition. The PPCS West Campus entered five teams in the day long-where teams from Broward and Dade County participated in team vs team matches.
“Our Tech Titans team worked hard and won Best Robot Design from a pool of 51 teams,” said Robotics Sponsor Fermin Vasquez, eighth grade physical science and seventh grade life science teacher at the Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School. “The Tech Titans team is comprised of eighth graders Stanley Pierre, Jason Jaquith, Gustavo Salama, Adesola Adimula and Harry Zarcadoolas.” The teams competed in Teamwork, Robot Skills and Programming Challenges. The robotics teams are also judged on Best Design and STEM research project.
“Our Robotics Club teams entered the First Annual Junior Orange Bowl Vex IQ Qualifier Competition with a goal of earning a spot in the February 2017 State of Florida Tournament in Tampa, Fla. “We are so happy for our students; they achieved their goal. Our student government has planned a pep rally to inspire our Tech Titans towards further success in February,” said Michael Castellanos, principal, Pembroke Pines Charter Campus.
Established in January of 2015, the PPCMS Robotics Club is comprised of two groups: the sixth grade students who make up the PPCS-West Science Olympiad Team and the 7th and eighth grade students who compete as a team in the VEX IQ Robotics Challenges. Currently the team has 41 members.
The Pembroke Pines Charter School System was created and built by the city of Pembroke Pines and is home to four elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school housed on five educational campuses throughout the city. Students can begin their education in a Pembroke Pines Charter elementary school, study in a regional library, graduate from the high school and continue their education at Broward College, located on a charter school campus at the academic village.
A nationally designated All-America city, Pembroke Pines is a hub of traditional and international flavor, ranging from its residents and businesses to its food and shopping. Easily accessed from I-95, the Florida Turnpike, I-75 and the Palmetto Express-way in South Broward County, Pembroke Pines enjoys a reputation as an innovative and progressive community which boasts a strong commitment to education, business, and the environment.
For additional information about the city of Pembroke Pines or its charter school system please visit www.ppines.com.
