Rookie Robotics Team Wins
Rookie Robotics Team Wins $3000 Grant for Competing in First Competition
The Summit Atlas Middle and High School Robotics Team participated in its inaugural
competition, the 2024 FIRST Tech Challenge, on October 27, securing fifth place out of 12
teams. As a rookie team, they were awarded an OSPI Grant for over $3,000.
Summit Atlas, a free charter public school in West Seattle, launched its Robotics Club in the
2023-2024 school year. The team applied for the FIRST Washington OSPI Grant, which is
specifically aimed at public schools with aspirations to compete in the 2024 FIRST Tech
Challenge. This international event challenges high school students to design and build a fully
functional robot weighing up to 125 pounds within a six-week timeframe.
“It’s not just about building a robot—it’s about preparing for competition and what comes with
it,” says Portia Riedel, Dean of Expeditions and an instructor at Summit Atlas. “The students
worked together effectively, aligning their goals and expectations for the year. Their primary
focus was to construct a fully functional robot that could perform well in the competition, while
also laying the groundwork for a sustainable program that will support future success.”
This recognition came at a pivotal moment in the team’s journey. The Summit Atlas Robotics
Club was initially built on the vision of Middle School Dean of Culture Carol Lima, who saw the
need for a technology program that could empower students. Lima, an enthusiastic former
robotics club member herself, helped transform a small group of interested students into a club
that now spans both middle and high school. It is the club of its kind in this regard, and it quickly
gained momentum.
“Starting with Expeditions [a program unique to Summit Public Schools in which students gain
first-hand experience in various fields of study] and the bare bones of a robot, the students were
already dreaming about a future success in competitions,” says Jen Dotrong, Summit Atlas
Expeditions teacher.
Dotrong, a former Northwestern University engineering student with extensive non-profit
experience, inspired students to think beyond just building a robot. Under her mentorship, they
created a team structure that included sub-teams for building, coding, and administrative
tasks—each focused on contributing to the team’s goals. As the team’s ambitions grew, so did
their sense of purpose.
The importance of leadership was clear from the outset and became the key to eventually
competing. Jacob Airhiavbere, an eleventh grader, stands out for his natural interest in robotics,
coding, and leadership. His quiet confidence and ability to take initiative made him an obvious
choice for Club Leader.
“I remember when the principal announced the new robotics club in freshman year,” says
Airhiavbere. “I was so excited because it felt like a place for students like me—interested in
building robots but not yet exploring the programming side of things. I reached out to Lima, who
was the robotics leader at the time, because I wanted to help relaunch the club. I even put
together a slideshow to get things going. That’s when I met Ms. Jen for the first time. Starting
with expeditions and my outreach efforts—especially connecting with Jen—really helped me see
things from a whole new perspective and push the club forward.”
For Airhiavbere, leadership is a continuous learning process. He values gaining different
perspectives from his peers and instructors to refine his leadership style. Networking and
outreach are key to his growth—he actively seeks to build connections with people who can offer
new insights. When the team’s hard work led to both a competition and a grant win, Airhiavbere
felt a renewed sense of recognition, which empowered him to step beyond his rookie status.
In contrast, Charles Johanson, the team’s Chief Engineer, brings a different set of experiences to
the table. A senior in high school, Johanson is preparing for the next chapter in his academic
journey. Although he had limited experience with robotics before joining the club, Johanson was
appointed Chief Engineer thanks to the mentorship of Portia Reidel, who recognized his natural
aptitude for engineering and leadership. As Chief Engineer, Johanson is responsible for knowing
every detail of the robot and leading its operation during competitions, an essential role that
demands both technical knowledge and leadership skills.
“Our team learned a lot from watching videos of competitions in Washington and other states,”
says Johanson. “We thought we were prepared, but we quickly realized that teams in Washington
have more experience and funding. The competition was tougher than we expected, and it
challenged us to rise to the occasion.”
Johanson underscores the importance of accountability in leadership. He not only makes a point
of analyzing with his team the strong and weak points of other teams during competition, but he
also ensures that he watches a playback of Summit Atlas’ performance. He aims to understand
what went wrong, or right, and how to improve.
To fully realize their competitive goal, the Robotics Club needed to fundraise. Isandro
West-alvarez, the club’s financial leader, took charge of starting a GoFundMe and successfully
raised enough money not only to apply for a robotics competition–which are surprisingly
expensive–but also to purchase the club a 3D printer. West-Alvarez has used this experience of
allocating money as a benchmark for future budgeting. West-Alvarez was only in tenth grade at
the time.
In late September, West-Alvarez furthered his commitment by applying for the OSPI Grant,
successfully securing it. His foray into grant writing exemplifies how robotics offers
opportunities to gain real-world skills.
“We’re an up and coming team and we wanted to communicate how we’re going to use the
money effectively,” says West-Alvarez. “I tried making it really clear that the money is going to
go where it needs to go. We’re learning how to budget. The money will make its way to where
we said it will.”
In their inaugural competition, the Summit Atlas Robotics Team exceeded all expectations.
Their ability to navigate financial constraints, paired with their focus on building skills and
connections, showcases how success is not just about having the best tools, but having the right
mindset. With persistence and a collaborative spirit, the Summit Atlas Robotics Team has laid a
strong foundation for future competitions and continues to prove that success is possible even
when the odds seem stacked against you.
“They’re scrappy, and it’s impressive how they make it work,” says Reidel. “They’re coding on
some of our old teacher laptops, pulling together what they need with limited resources. But
that’s the spirit of the team—they’re resourceful, and that’s how they’re learning. We’re really
focused on creating a student-led environment here, where they take ownership of their work.
With Jen Dotrong coaching and support from adult industry mentors, they’re developing not just
technical skills, but also professionalism and personal responsibility. It’s all about preparing them
for the real world.”
