“Clank! Wham!” These are the sounds heard from B-107, every Monday during unit lunch. Students, over the past couple weeks, have congregated here weekly with one goal in mind—building and coding robots.
Del Val’s new Robotics Club held their first interest meeting on Nov. 18, 2024, with plans of a bright and competitive future for the team.
This club, founded by sophomores Sarah Sencher and Maya Sliver, has recently gained traction with students aspiring to become engineers and technicians. Sencher described the first official meeting as exciting.
“You could definitely see the enthusiasm and anticipation on everyone’s faces,” Sencher said.
In the past, Del Val has not shown any particular interest in robotics. Extracurriculars tended to focus on athletics, but the Robotics Club administrator, John Harrold, hopes to branch out, and provide options for students with all kinds of interests.
“I’ve seen firsthand how impactful robotics programs can be—not just for students interested in STEM careers, but for anyone looking to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills,” Harrold said.
Harrold has successfully managed robotics teams in the past, spending 8 years in FRC (First Robotics Competition) with team 550 and assisting the startup of a team in East Brunswick.
“These teams gave students great hands-on opportunities, and I’m confident we can build something just as successful here,” Harrold said.
Sencher and Sliver have been collaborating with Harrold and math supervisor Ryan Murphy for months to bring their ideas to fruition.
“We started with an idea, and had to figure out how to turn it into something real,” Sencher said.
Sencher and Sliver also received encouragement from Principal Kays throughout the whole process.
“Mr. Kays heard their ideas and knew I had experience with robotics, and thought it would be a great addition to our school,” Harrold said.
Sencher and Sliver described the club’s startup as both challenging and rewarding.
“The hardest part was probably getting people to commit, but seeing everyone come together has made it all worth it,” Sencher said.
Harrold seconds this thought, and he enjoys seeing the students become leaders in the classroom.
“It’s great seeing the students have the chance to take the lead and turn their ideas into reality,” Harrold said.
Their main obstacle now is student participation.
“Because of the delay in getting our weekly meetings on the school-wide calendar and a lack of email communication, many students still don’t know our club exists,” Harrold said.
To address this, members are relying on word-of-mouth and parent engagement.
“We encourage parents to support the club however they can,” Harrold said.
Funding is another major hurdle for the new club. Robotics requires costly materials, such as building kits, and the club is actively seeking support from local businesses.
“We’re hoping to secure sponsorships soon,” said Sencher. “That way, we can focus more on building and less on worrying about resources.”
The team also plans to design and sell shirts and other merchandise to raise additional funds.
Looking ahead, the club hopes to establish itself as a competitive force.
“We’d love to start entering county-level competitions and eventually aim for regional ones,” said Sencher.
Due to the passing of the entry date requirement, this club cannot participate in major competitions this year. Harrold plans on reaching out to nearby schools for scrimmage opportunities.
“Even without official competitions, we want students to gain valuable practice and experience,” Harrold said.
The future of Del Val Robotics looks bright, with passionate founders, committed members, and a clear vision.
“This is just the beginning. We’re excited to see how far we can go,” Sencher said.
