FPL engineer and former competitor helps students build award-winning robots
Florida Power & Light Co.
The clock is ticking, and Zach Dean is rushing to put the final touches on a robot that’s minutes away from battling other machines.
His high school robotics team, S.P.A.M. (Speed, Power and Maneuverability) — is preparing to enter the makeshift arena inside the Broward County Convention Center, where game controllers connected to laptops direct robots through a speed and obstacle course.
Over six weeks, the Stuart teens built a robot from scratch — complete with high-powered brushless motors and 3D vision systems — in a 6,000-square-foot warehouse provided by the Martin County School District.
Team to compete in FIRST competition
Now, S.P.A.M. will battle other high schools from around the world in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.
Dean credits team mentor Elizabeth “Lily” Pawlak for expanding his machine skills and teaching him how to use the power tools and industrial machinery it takes to build the robots.
Twelve years ago, Pawlak was a machinist for S.P.A.M., participating in the same competitions as her current mentees and crafting robot parts from scratch. Today, she’s an equipment-reliability engineer supporting the Florida Power & Light Co. nuclear fleet.
“I wanted to come back and be a mentor because I want to show them that it’s not just a fun thing to do in high school, that it really can be an opportunity for your future,” Pawlak said.
One of the main benefits of science, technology, engineering and math programs is helping students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which they can apply beyond the classroom.
“I met a lot of incredible people back then — professionals who volunteered their time at these competitions — and I maintained those connections throughout college,” Pawlak said. “These connections really make a difference for the children involved. It shows them companies care, that companies are interested in them and that they have a future if they ever want to look forward to career opportunities with them.”
Other FPL employees volunteered at the event as judges, mentors, emcees, referees, robot inspectors and even robot doctors. FPL sponsors a Robot Urgent Care, a portable machine shop, where company machinists and engineers fix broken robots, so students don’t have to drop out of the competition.
Eyeing success in Texas
The Martin County team took home first place and the quality award for its machine. Two weeks later, it won the Tallahassee regional, and is hoping to keep the streak alive at the upcoming FIRST Championship in Texas.
“It’s amazing watching all of their hard work come to fruition,” Pawlak said. “These students feel so great knowing that the county, the School Board and companies like FPL are investing in them, supporting them and giving them all of the tools they need to succeed.”
FPL has opened its FPL Robotics Scholarship application for 2024 to all public and private high school students across FPL’s service area who have at least two years in a FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST Robotics Competition. Interested students can submit their application through May 15 at www.FPL.com/Education under STEM Grants and Scholarship.
