2014 St. Louis Regional Championship Alliance Winner and Regional Chairman's Award
The
Camdenton 4-H LASER (Laker Afterschool Science, Engineering, and Robotics) FIRST®
team was founded by head coaches Mr. & Mrs. Comer in late 2009. Mr. Comer is a Project Lead the Way
instructor at Camdenton High School and Mrs. Comer is Director of Afterschool
Services. Camden County 4-H contacted Camdenton R-III Afterschool Services and
shared the JCPenney/4-H grant application for startup funds of a robotics
program called FIRST®. (For Inspiration
& Recognition of Science & Technology)
Mr. Comer had been seeking a funding source to start a
FIRST® team in the High School for several years. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Comer applied for not
only the 4-H/JCPenney grant, but also a new 21st Century Community Learning
Center Afterschool Grant to provide the much needed funds to build the
foundation of a solid FIRST® robotics program that would
continue and grow for years to come.
LASER was awarded the 4-H/JCPenney grant and the “HARDEST FUN EVER” began! The grant was awarded late so the LASER team started out behind, but that did not hinder their determination or the drive of the team to bag and tag on time and get their very first robot shipped! Good news was shared during the build season that the Camdenton R-III Afterschool Services office had been awarded an additional 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. FIRST® robotics would be a permanent addition to the afterschool program with the help of Speedline Technologies and Lake Professional Engineering mentors!
In just 5 short years the Camdenton LASER team has grown from the inaugural 21 students to 250+ students. One in every nineteen Camdenton R-III students, out of a student body of 4,200, is now on a FIRST® LASER team!
Camdenton R-III schools are proud that all four progressions of FIRST® have been implemented through the Afterschool program. Also, worthy of noting is that the Camdenton HS LASER 3284 team is hosts of the official Mid MO FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifier, the Mid MO FIRST® Tech Challenge Qualifier and the Mid Mo FIRST® Jr. Expo. In addition, 3284 annually co-hosts the Show Me Robotics Challenge at the Missouri State Fair where FIRST® is shared with thousands of attendees yearly.
LASER was awarded the 4-H/JCPenney grant and the “HARDEST FUN EVER” began! The grant was awarded late so the LASER team started out behind, but that did not hinder their determination or the drive of the team to bag and tag on time and get their very first robot shipped! Good news was shared during the build season that the Camdenton R-III Afterschool Services office had been awarded an additional 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. FIRST® robotics would be a permanent addition to the afterschool program with the help of Speedline Technologies and Lake Professional Engineering mentors!
In just 5 short years the Camdenton LASER team has grown from the inaugural 21 students to 250+ students. One in every nineteen Camdenton R-III students, out of a student body of 4,200, is now on a FIRST® LASER team!
Camdenton R-III schools are proud that all four progressions of FIRST® have been implemented through the Afterschool program. Also, worthy of noting is that the Camdenton HS LASER 3284 team is hosts of the official Mid MO FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifier, the Mid MO FIRST® Tech Challenge Qualifier and the Mid Mo FIRST® Jr. Expo. In addition, 3284 annually co-hosts the Show Me Robotics Challenge at the Missouri State Fair where FIRST® is shared with thousands of attendees yearly.
