World champion Robotics team celebrated

Robowranglers receive mayoral proclamation

May 15, 2008
Herald-Banner

By Brad Kellar
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- It wasn't a tickertape parade, but the world champion Robowranglers received the next best thing this week.

The team from Greenville High School were the recipients of a proclamation in their honor from Mayor Tom Oliver and the Greenville City Council, as well as a standing ovation from the audience which had gathered for Tuesday's Council meeting.

"You are a real asset to this city," Oliver said.

The Robowranglers were a member of the three-team alliance - alongside squads from Sterling Heights, Mich. and St. Catharines, Ontario - which won the recent FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) World Championship in Atlanta.

The Robowranglers are sponsored by Innovation First, Incorporated, and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems.

The FIRST competition included more than 1,500 teams from the United States and seven other nations.

Oliver read the proclamation at the start of Tuesday's meeting, then noted how special the team's achievement was for Greenville.

"We are so proud of you, we can't express our feelings," Oliver said.

Johnny Tharp, who along with Vanessa Pope were the team's faculty sponsors, expressed similar feelings.

"I can't say how proud I am of this group of students and their mentors," Tharp said.

One of those mentors was also recognized Tuesday for winning a prestigious FIRST award.

John Viel-Kind Neun, a mechanical engineer with Innovation First in Greenville was honored earlier this year with the Woodie Flowers Award, which celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design.  Dr. William Murphy founded the award in 1996 to recognize mentors who lead, inspire, and empower using excellent communication skills.  The award is presented to an outstanding engineer or teacher participating in the robotics competition who best demonstrates excellence in teaching science, math, and creative design.

Tharp said that while the Robowranglers had traditionally done well during previous FIRST competitions, being part of a world championship is the biggest honor of all.

"This is the year the stars aligned and everything came together," Tharp said.

Team members include Rae Arnold, Allison Chitwood, Michelle Colwell, Cody Fields, Bethany Follett, Elise Follett, Parker Foote, Parker Francis, Ben Gilbert, Regan Haralson, Ethan Isham, Trent Jones, Katie Kroncke, Austin Lambert, Julie Latimer, Mark Mahrer, Logan Marcum, Zack McClellen, Chris McMurray, Adam Risley, Laura Risley, Charles Wensel and Kaleb Wright.

Team148.org  |  Robowranglers.com