Robotics team earns two top awards in Sea, Air & Land Competition – Penn Manor School District

Three Penn Manor High School students recently earned two top awards in a robotics competition at Millersville University.

The team of Ben Thomas, Ethan Lama and Tyler Hudson placed first in the Air Division and second in the combined Air and Land Division of the Penn State/US Navy Sea Air & Land Robotics Competition, held April 18 at MU.

Teams of students designed and built drones, rovers and submersibles, which completed challenges similar to missions encountered by the military, national security agencies and first responders in the air, on land and underwater.

The Penn Manor team designed and built a drone and a 3D-printed forklift rover for the competition. In the Air competition, the team took part in a simulated radiation disaster challenge. In their Air/Land competition, they had to fly in and deliver supplies to a hospital that had lost access due to an earthquake. 

A fourth student, Aman Shaik, was an integral part of the team, but was unable to attend the competition because he was competing in the State Technology Student Association Conference.

“The students faced some tough challenges, but their enthusiasm, dedication, and talent helped them push through and succeed where many might have given up,” said Jonathan Zimmerman, high school gifted support teacher and robotics team advisor.

“They should feel really proud of what they were able to achieve.”

Congratulations to these students, their advisor and the Penn Manor technology education teachers who assisted them.