Whiz Kids: Aces High Robotics Team

Name: Aces High (Team 176)

Grades: 9 - 12

Schools: and Windsor Locks High School

Accomplishment: Aces High, the competitive robotics team that welcomes high-school students from Suffield and Windsor Locks, won the Granite State Regional competition in New Hampshire on March 5.

Aces High formed an alliance at the competition with Buzz Robotics (Team 175) from Enfield and Mechanical Mayhem (Team 1519) from New Hampshire to advance through the elimination rounds of the competition and claim the top prize.

Because of the victory, Aces High qualified to compete at the national competition that takes place this month in St. Louis, MO.

The team, which has 31 members and about 15 mentors and advisors,  offers a variety of roles to student participants. Students can work on designing, building and operating the robot as well as promoting the club at its competitions.

Mentors Bob Lowell and Bill Pease, along with most of the team, were on hand at a recent Suffield Board of Education meeting where the team was honored. Lowell encouraged students to join the team, noting the camaraderie, variety of roles available and the fun and sense of accomplishment that come from being a member of Aces High.

Submit your Whiz Kid nomination in our comment box below or e-mail your nomination in the format above to Local Editor Perry Robbin at Perry.Robbin@Patch.com.