Schools all over Santa Ana were getting ready to promote their academics and programs at the annual SAUSD School Choice at Mainplace Mall on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2018. The event ran from 1 to 7 p.m., and our Engineering Club participated in the Career Technical Education Robotics competition, winning third place place for their Sumobot, “Omnigul.”

Representatives from the district’s schools at the event discussed information on various programs at their selected schools. Schools from all over the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) were stationed all on the first and second floor of the Mainplace Mall. Additionally, they were given a table at which they were permitted to decorate with their school’s pride, as well as achievements. At the center of the mall, entertainment was provided by school bands, cheerleaders and other student groups. Principal Voight, members of ASB, and our high school counselor, Mrs. Espinosa, attended and represented Middle College High School at the event.

Middle College High School offers two classes of Career Technical Education: Med Core and the professional internship class, both being promoted at the School Choice Awards. Different students, mostly from Santa Ana High School, talked about Med Core and their experience with the program. Now many of Middle College’s students are taking the Hospital Occupation class at Santa Ana High School, which is part of MCHS’s medical pathway. “I’m proud to be here,” said Mrs. Espinosa, “you know to be a part of Middle College High School, because obviously I believe in our school and I believe in the opportunities that it gives our students. It’s nice to be here.”

The Robotics team had two robots competing, a clawbot, Gandalf the Great, and a sumobot, Omnigul. Junior Erick Villalobos was Gandalf’s primary driver and junior Eduardo Velasquez was Omnigul, who won third place. Each robot went through different competitions. Gandalf was part of a competition where the driver had to control the robot to put balls in specific tubes, all of which were varying sizes. The more balls you put in the smaller tubes the more points the robot gets. The competition Omnigul was part of a competition that consisted of two robots in one circle, and in order to win, one robot had to push the other out of the circle. The Engineering Club team had been building Gandalf for about two years and worked on Omnigul for five months. According to junior Quan Do, president of the club, “The most fun thing about robotics is having friends to work on the same projects at the same time and messing around, but working and accomplishing your goal.” When the rest of the team was asked about the most fun part about robotics, they all said roughly about the same thing: the most fun part about robotics is being able to build something from scratch with your friends.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Alexis Rodriguez -Mejia

Gandalf the clawbot being presented.