Bronco Bytes April 25th

4/26/2019

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MONTINI STUDENTS TAKING ROBOTICS WORLD BY STORM

Robotics students at Montini are spending their spring in the winner's circles! The teams have been very busy designing and testing their competitive robots and have brought home three trophies to prove it!

On Friday, April 5th, Montini Technology Director, Mr. Peter Farina '86 traveled with three teams to compete in the 18th annual Joliet Junior College LEGO Robotics competition. Eleven high schools brought multiple teams to this year's event. Teams are given only four hours to design, build, and program robots that can then compete in six different challenges. "Our Bronco Robotics teams were absolutely outstanding winning the first place and third place trophies," said Farina. In the end, it was Montini's 'Gold Team' consisting of students : Myles Marciniak, Alex Reading, John McManus (son of Chrissy O'Neill Mcmanus '88), and Garrick Nielsen (son of Maureen O'Neill Nielsen '87) who secured the first place trophy. Claiming the third place trophy was the 'Maroon Team' of Max Kramer, Matt Hejny (son of Jeff Hejny '87), Jack Grahn, and Billy Cyze. "Our final team of AJ Geraci, Geno Alfano, Frank Conforti (son of Frank Conforti '86), and Luke Marciniak competed well but ended up with a score just outside the medal range," added Farina.

On Saturday, April 13th - it was on to the Museum of Science and Industry to compete (for the second year) in the Argonne National Laboratories Autonomous Vehicle Competition. Teams from ten different high schools designed, built, and programmed vehicles that could drive themselves through a maze-like obstacle course. "Montini's team and vehicle performed incredibly well and won the second place trophy," announced Farina.

The Argonne Autonomous Vehicle Competition is structured and modeled after the engineering design cycle that Argonne engineers and scientists practice - from submitting a project proposal to documenting progress to presenting final product. The prestigious competition consisted of both preliminary and day-of phases. Teams were judged on their engineering design process, vehicle design https://www.montini.org/cf_enotify/view.cfm?n=1836

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and performance. "We were required to submit a detailed design and budget for our vehicle back in December," informed Farina. "Our team has been working multiple afternoons and evenings per week since their vehicle components arrived in January!"

Farina explained that the Argonne competition involves a lengthy process which lends to a competition day that was more than five hours long. "Teams had to pass vehicle inspection, had to be interviewed by multiple Argonne scientists and engineers about their vehicle and they had to make a presentation about their vehicle in the rotunda of the museum," he said. "Finally, teams made one last public presentation introducing themselves and describing the work on their vehicle before placing it in the obstacle course!" Farina and his team grew quite anxious knowing that all their months of hard work and efforts came down to just one official timed run in the obstacle course in front of a large crowd.

"Team Captain, Alex Walsh and team members Max Kramer, Billy Cyze, Matt Hejny, Sarah Zimmerman, and Andrew Ernat worked through major setbacks and overcame great odds to achieve a fantastic finish that should make us all proud to be Broncos," said Mr. Farina.

Jobs in the STEM field are the fastest growing careers, and are projected to grow another 17% in the next decade, according to Tech Edvocate. Growing industries will be searching for people who can come up with new and innovative ideas, and be equipped with the knowledge to design and create the technology needed. "In a few years or so, over half of the available jobs will be in the STEM field and a large chunk of the rest will require employees to have some STEM knowledge." (www.thetechedvocate.org).

"Montini Catholic is proud to be able to introduce students to robotics and encourage them to pursue this explosive field of opportunities," said President Jim Segredo. "Robotics competitions challenge our students to combine their creativity with their engineering and technology skills. We are thrilled to be able to send them to these competitions to grow their esteem and confidence in their extraordinary abilities. And bringing home the trophies? Well that's just icing on the cake!"

Pictured above: 1st place team at Joliet Junior College LEGO Robotics Competition, left to right, Alex Reading, Garrick Nielsen (son of Maureen O'Neill Nielsen '87), Luke Marciniak and John McManus (son of Chrissy O'Neill McManus '88)

SENIORS MAKE SPRING SPORT COMMITMENTS

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Earlier this month three senior Broncos made their commitments to continue their academic and athletic pursuits at the collegiate level on National Sports Signing Day. Signing Letters of Intent on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 were: Basketball: Zoe MacKay Zacker at Valparaiso University and Luke Morrill at Valparaiso University Softball: Alyssa Filkowski at Elmhurst College "The college decision process is a long and daunting one," said Athletic Director, Tom Lentine. "I am very proud of Zoe, Luke and Alyssa. I know their families are very proud of them and we are confident that all three of them will achieve great success athletically and academically."

MONTIN DAY OF GIVING - MAY 15 Last year we held our inaugural day of giving on May 15th and had over 60 donors respond with gifts on that day alone. Join us this year for our 2nd Annual One Day in May, Montini's Day of Giving on Wednesday, May 15th. Alumni, alumni parents and families are asked to support this Day of Giving with gifts to specific programs that have impacted their or their student lives. Donations can be restricted to: Academic Programs, Academic Scholarships, Athletics, Campus Enhancements, Extra-Curricular Activities, Financial Aid Assistance, Performing Arts Programs, Service learning Programs, and Technology Enhancements. Look for more information as we approach May 15th!

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CUBS ROOFTOP OUTING IN JUNE The Alumni Office will be hosting an alumni Cubs Rooftop Outing on Sunday, June 9th at 1:20pm vs. Cardinals. Tickets are $100 each and include access to the rooftop, all you can eat and drink buffet (water, pop and beer). This event is open to all ages. A limited number of tickets are available. Click here to purchase your tickets.

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN Do you have a grade school student or know one that is looking for something fun to do this summer? There are a variety of summer academic and athletic camps available including robotics, theater, dance and basketball and everything in between.

Check out the full list of camps and register today.

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Montini Catholic High School 19W070 16th St. Lombard IL 60148 alumni@montini.org

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