A local robotics team got an extra boost this month.
On Saturday, the United Methodist Men’s Group, part of the United Methodist Church’s worldwide network, presented robotics team 4-H Awkward Silence with a check for $ 300 to support the team.
The presentation took place at Pahrump Valley United Methodist Church, in a meeting that included breakfast and a demonstration by one of the team’s robots.
This team is made up of five members: Megan Riendeau, ninth grade student; Travis Long-Schinhofen, 10th grade; Kain Chavez, 10th grade; Bryan Zana, grade 10, and Billy Lauder, senior.
Megan Riendeau and Travis Long-Schinhofen were the team members who went to church to accept the donation. Coach Jason Riendeau was also present at the handover of the checks.
This isn’t the first time the Methodist men’s group has supported a local robotics team.
The Methodist Church also donated to the Pahrump Valley High School Robotics Team and thought it would be “wonderful” to help support the local 4-H team.
Robotics competition
Awkward Silence takes on other Nevada robotics teams. This includes Boulder City, Las Vegas, and Mesquite.
The local 4-H team was created five years ago.
Jason Riendeau, coach for four years, said: “When they were trying to choose the name of the team, they would just sit there, not knowing what to name the team, and someone shouted ‘awkward silence! And it kind of got stuck. . “Awkward Silence was the first robotics team to form in Pahrump five years ago, followed by Pahrump Valley High School.
There are an approximate total of 38 teams registered in Nevada, but only half of them will actually participate in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
Team competitions consist of games in which they have to score the most points from other teams to win. They don’t know the kind of game or the rules until September, the start of the season.
Awkward Silence won the state this year, but unfortunately the Nationals have been canceled due to COVID. They only have about six weeks to assemble their robot, which costs about $ 1,100 in parts.
The robot, which is called Awkward B, weighs around 20 to 30 pounds and measures around 18 × 18 inches. The team meets twice a week for two hours to work on their robot.
Students involved in the robotics team have the opportunity to get a STEAM scholarship (stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, math).
The team has many different sponsors including Tesla, Walmart, Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza, Tractor Supply, Great Computer Deals, Home Depot, Java Junkies, Joe, RV Glass Specialist, Do It Best Pahrump, Your Wood Shop, Apartments 24 / 7, Patterson Fabrication LLC and Teletechnology LLC.
There will be a screening of the team on PBS Stem Camp on July 16 at 9am where they will talk about their team and their competitions.
Awkward Silence is currently recruiting for the 2021-22 season. People can get off at Building 4-H on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. After the start of the school year, the team can come back two days a week and the second day would be Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
People can visit https://bit.ly/3xLlCVo which shows videos of their bots and the matches they have to endure.
People can also visit the team’s Facebook page at https://bit.ly/36L2KtL
