National Robotics Challenge marks 20th year at the Coliseum in Marion

Andrew Carter, Marion Star
·3 min read
The National Robotics Challenge is scheduled for April 13-15, 2023, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion. Originally known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge (SME/RTEC), the competition was founded in 1986. Marion became home to the event in 2004.
The National Robotics Challenge is scheduled for April 13-15, 2023, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion. Originally known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge (SME/RTEC), the competition was founded in 1986. Marion became home to the event in 2004.

Organizers of the National Robotics Challenge (NRC) are reflecting on the event's two decades of providing a creative outlet for young engineers and scientists at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion. A group of Marion area educators grabbed the reins of the event in 2004, at a time when it was in need of new leadership and they've kept it going.

"It's hard to believe that 20 years ago we thought this would be a good idea," said Tad Douce, one of the three founding directors of the NRC along with Ed Goodwin and Ritch Ramey. "But it's been an incredible experience for us and we've had the chance to meet and interact with so many bright and talented young people over that time. It's always exciting to see what these kids will do from year to year."

Douce is the competition's director of events. Ramey is the director of strategic partnerships. Goodwin is director emeritus. Mark Robinson is the NRC's director of program quality, Brad Pottkotter is the director of facilities, and Eli Cochran is the director of contest judging for the NRC.

"It's the oldest and longest running robotics competition, we believe in the world, but certainly in the United States," Douce said. "On the way home from the 2003 competition, Ed and Ritch and I were talking and we thought that we could bring it to Marion. We thought that the Coliseum, with the support we have from our schools and the community, would be a good place to host it."

Originally known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge (SME/RTEC), the competition was founded by educators from Michigan in 1986, Douce said.

The 2022 National Robotics Challenge was held April 4-7 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion, Ohio.
The 2022 National Robotics Challenge was held April 4-7 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion, Ohio.

Douce said 29 teams attended the inaugural NRC that Marion hosted in 2004. The field included 25 high schools, two middle schools, and two teams from post-secondary institutions. Nine of the original 29 participants are still sending teams to the competition each year, he said.

The schools that have remained faithful to the event over the last two decades are Ridgedale Junior/Senior High School; River Valley High School; Tri-Rivers Career Center; Indiana Tech Explorer Post 2829 from Fort Wayne, Indiana; Marlington High School from Alliance; Medina High School; Northwest Education Services Career Tech Engineering Academy from Traverse City, Michigan; Patrick Henry High School from Hamler; and Ohio Northern University from Ada.

Indiana Tech's lead teacher Rex Joyner has been taking teams to the NRC since 1995 and is retiring this year, Douce said. NRC officials plan to honor him for his service during this year's event.

This year's lineup includes 78 teams from 13 states and Puerto Rico. The field features teams sponsored by schools and other organizations.

"We've got teams from more states this year than we've ever had," Douce said. "That's exciting. The team from Puerto Rico registered to come last year, but was unable to make it, so we're glad to have them with us this year. We had a team from Armenia that attended for several years. That was always exciting to have them come in for the competition.

"We don't limit attendance to just schools. We have 4-H clubs, Explorer posts, Christian schools, home schools. We really try to be inclusive of all students because all students need to be able to access STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) learning. That's what this is all about, preparing kids for the world of work, being engineers, technicians, problem solvers, project managers − all those things that our workforce is looking for."

The 2023 edition of the NRC is scheduled for April 13-15 at the Coliseum, located on the campus of the Marion County Fairgrounds, 220 W. Fairground St. Doors open at 8 a.m. each day. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students. Children younger than age 5 are admitted at no cost.

For information about the National Robotics Challenge and to see the complete schedule of events, go to its website www.thenrc.org or follow The National Robotics Challenge on Facebook.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: National Robotics Challenge marks 20th year in Marion