Members of CCTI’s Joint Operating Committee were introduced to OSWALD, a robot that was build by students of the new Robotics Club.

Adviser Michael Garrant introduced Kian Bowman, a junior from Lehighton, and Louis Sypeck, a junior from Weatherly, both students in the Computer Information Technology Department.

Sypeck described the recent VEX Robotics Competition held in Newtown Square.

“Some things we learned from the competition are engineering skills, team work, and problem-solving capabilities,” Sypeck said. “Our robot here was built for the VEX Over/Under Competition this year, and it placed 14th out of 37 teams.”

OSWALD (which stands for Object-Slinging World-Aiding Lightweight Doohickey) can drive in all directions, spin, has a wing to knock balls into the goal, and a catapult that is used to shoot balls over a barrier. Bowman and Sypeck gave a demonstration to the committee.

“During the competition, all of the work is all on the students,” Garrant said. “They build the robots by themselves; and, if they run into a problem, they must problem solve and fix the problem on their own in order to continue in the competition.”

The students were also awarded the Sportsmanship Award at the competition; showing not only their skills in the field, but also what fine individuals they are and how well they represent themselves and CCTI.

Garrant also told the JOC members that the Computer Information Technology program at CCTI will be replaced with the Engineering Technology program starting in the 2024-2025 school year.