Page 6 - MidWeek Honolulu - April 5, 2023

6 APRIL 5, 2023
Assets School’s Teams Waffles, MEAF Have Come A Long Way In A Few Years
FROM PAGE 1
“Being in a robotics team isn’t just about being in STEM,” says Han. “A robot- ics team is almost like a small company. Our students learn to collaborate with each oth- er as a team improving their communication skills and problem-solving skills. They are also tasked with raising funds themselves so they actively communicate with adults and learn the business aspects of life.”
Han began the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Program at Assets School in 2018 as an extracurricular after-school program in hopes of getting more students interested in STEM curriculum. (FIRST is an acronym: For Inspira- tion and Recognition of Sci- ence and Technology.) At the time, only 10 students partic- ipated.
Today, the program in- cludes nearly 40 students, plus three coaches and men- tors: Han, Miles Yamamoto and Emi Hagiwara.
Members of Assets School’s Team Waffles (in red shirts) compete in a recent robotics competition. The team, which got its start in 2018, will be headed to the FIRST Robotics World Championship tournament later this month. PHOTO COURTESY ASSETS SCHOOL
raderie extends beyond the school. The robotics games are played in a two-versus- two alliance format and Team Waffles won by col- laborating with Team X-bots from Punahou School, who will be joining them in the world championships.
Assets School is having a virtual auction to raise money for tuition assistance. It’s open to the public and runs from 6 p.m. April 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 15. All proceeds will go to families who need financial aid. The online auction coin- cides with the school’s Illumi- nation Gala from 5 to 9 p.m. April 15 at The Pacific Club.
“We’ve also expanded the Robotics Program now to participate in FLL (FIRST Lego League) for the K-8 school and both FTC and FRC (FIRST Robotics Com- petition) at the high school,” shares Han. “Our program
and our team are still really young and new to the robot- ics community, so we still have a lot to learn.”
season ranked fourth. Team MEAF includes sophomore Rachel-Lyn Takemoto who resides in downtown Ho- nolulu, along with junior Makani Hagiwara, who lives in the Makiki neighborhood.
coached Team MEAF three years ago due to an increase in student interest,” says Han. “Team MEAF is the younger team but they show tons of potential.”
Assets School’s second team MEAF (Metal Engi- neering Assets Flamingos) also ended the season in the semi-finals and finished the
“It was actually Team Waffles that started and
In FIRST Robotics, it’s all about collaboration and teamwork — and this cama-
Visit assets-school.org.
Gather with us for Easter
Help us live out our mission to boldly grow compassion, justice, and joy.
April 9th: The Truth about Easter April 16th: Newcomers and
Visitor Information Session
Easter Egg Hunt following the service on April 9th!
(for children up to age 13)
Worship Leader:
Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd, CRE–ML (he/him)
All Services at 10 AM, in-person and online. 2500 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817
Find more at uuhonolulu.org