The newly re-formed Mathews High School Robotics Club held its first meeting since the program was shuttered in 2019 on Friday. Reviving the club has been a two-year mission for Mathews resident and robotics advocate Ken Childress.
The response from students has been strong. Twenty-four students have signed up as members, with 17 attending the kickoff meeting. Also present were club advisors Brian Donnelly and Randall Casciello. Donnelly led the session with an overview of the club’s mission, emphasizing the opportunities robotics provides for creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
The club will be student-driven, operating under a “no kits” rule that challenges members to design and build robots entirely from existing components and materials, beginning with equipment left over from 2019. Regular meetings will be held during designated school club days, with additional weekly after-school sessions planned. These sessions will provide hands-on training in skills such as welding, mi...