Award Winning Norman ‘Botball’ Team Visits Senate

Students from Norman Public Schools Advanced Robotics were recently given some time in the spotlight during a visit to the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. John Sparks recognized the group for winning its sixth state and regional Botball championship in 2012, for being ranked third in the world in 2011 and 2012, and for competing for its third world title in July 2012.

The Botball Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition, developing students’ skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The competition further challenges students’ ability to manage projects and cooperate as team members.

“These students are developing the ability to apply their skills in science, mathematics and related fields in ways that directly prepare them to be the sort of innovators and problem-solvers needed in our modern economy,” said Sparks, D-Norman. “They should be a source of pride not only for our schools, but for our community and the state as a whole. The knowledge they gain from these competitions will serve them well throughout their educational experience and beyond.”

Botball teams consist of 5-20 middle and high school aged students who learn how to design, create and program two robots to address games based on various themes. Norman Public Schools’ Advanced Robotics is a merger of Norman’s two high school robotics programs, Norman High and Norman North.