fourthsixth-graders.through

design/build, Grace leads business, Thomas Hubbell leads programming, and Zach Callos leads electrical—and each has a responsibility to pass their knowledge on to the younger members.

The younger team members' roles are to learn as much as possible before senior members move on. Fortunately, they are also supported by a strong collection of mentors.

“Our core mentors are Mike Tymrak, Carrick Remaley, Lael Alexander and Joe Reed,” says Grace. “Mike has been on the team since it began, over 17 years ago, as a friend of the team founder, Ed Katz. Carrick got involved in 2007-2008 while working with Ed at the high school. Lael got involved five years ago when her daughter joined the team. And Joe, like Mike, has been with the team since its conception.”

The team saw a lot of success in its earliest years. With a “great group” of students and Katz as their science teacher, the early Alpha+ team went to Worlds competitions five times.

“When the pandemic hit, however, the size of the team also took a hit,” Grace says. Without the chance to compete, new members didn’t see any opportunity in joining the team.

Now, the current team works to advertise, recruit and restore the team from a challenging time. “Our hope is to build the team back up to what it was before COVID, and hopefully compete in Worlds again,” she adds, noting the youngest members currently on the team are “proving to be very promising for the future.”

This summer, Alpha+ will host its annual Robotics Summer Camp, open to upcoming fourth- through sixth-graders. To learn more, the community can keep in touch with Alpha+ through their Facebook page, FIRST Team 2130, and via email at 2130alphaplus@gmail.com.

Elevated Essentials is the perfect place to find all of your aromatherapy needs. Our collection of diffusers and essential oils sourced from Bulgaria, India, and Bangladesh will leave your space feeling refreshed and invigorated.