Since 2007, the UHSSE 4-H Robotics Team 1991, The Dragons, has helped prepare high school students for careers in manufacturing and engineering, and prepared them for college by teaching practical skills such as three-dimensional milling, lathing, CAD, welding, and 3D printing, as well as general tool usage that can be applied to many industries such as using a band saw, table saw, drill press, chop saw, etc.
NE FIRST Robotics – New England District – 2nd Place - Hartford, CT - March 3, 2024: Top Row Left to Right:
Design Captain - Abhi Tippiready, Mentor – Jay Kean, Programming Captain: Emmett Spaeth, Max Kleykamp, Build Captain: Eric Coppinger, Carl Allen, Catie Lake: Bottom Row Left to Right: Oliver Shaw, William Pape, Xavier Robles, Thomas Morgan, Lead Mentor: Eileen Kean, Natania Dhanagar, Dakshita Vobbineni, and Rahin Ambia
The team is student-run, their yearly robot is student-designed and built, programmed, and operated in a high school sport type event with at least three events per year, but generally about five or more events. Beyond physical skills, they acquire the ability to work in teams to strategize each new game for which they have about 8 weeks to build a working robot starting in early January. Throughout the year, students also teach skills to the newer students on the team.
2024 CIAC CT State Championship Award – 1st Place (Team Captains & Awards) - Glastonbury, CT - May 19, 2024 : Left to Right: Design Captain: Abhi Tippireddy, Programming Captain: Emmett Spaeth, Build Captain: Eric Coppinger
UHSSE Team 1991 produces some of the finest high school graduates who are prepared, confident and ready for their post-secondary ambitions and future. Besides participating in this club, many are student-athletes and get other awards for academic and community service achievements.
2024 CIAC CT State Championship Award – 1st Place (Team Picture) - Glastonbury, CT - May 19, 2024: Top Row Left to Right: Mentor – George Casner, Catie Lake, William Pape, Thomas Morgan, Mentor – Jay Kean, Mentor – Mike Guillette: Bottom Row Left to Right: Design Captain: Abhi Tippireddy, Xavier Robles, Lead Mentor – Eileen Kean, Build Captain: Eric Coppinger, Programming Captain: Emmett Spaeth, Dakshita Vobbineni, Natania Dhanagar
Team 1991 often receives engineering, design, and even Spirit awards, as is evident by the Team's trophy cases presented to all visitors near the front entrance. It was with great honor and pride that team 1991 was part of a three-team alliance that won 1st Place in the 2024 CIAC Connecticut State Robotics Championship on Sunday, May 19th, 2024.
At their first event for this season, they placed 2nd Place in the 2024 Finalist New England District at Hartford. All their competitions are managed by the FIRST Inspires organization. Team 1991 fosters an "I can do it" attitude regardless of gender, race or ethnicity. They have mentors who come from many different backgrounds, with varying skill sets, and even one who will, after moving to New Hampshire, still come to their events to help. They also teach concepts such as gracious professionalism, self-reliance, critical thinking and relying on one's teammates. Students learn how to fail, and by doing so ultimately learn how to succeed in a manner that is sustainable and directly tied to their own actions.
Team: Dragon 1991 – Team Robot - March 2024: Left to Right: Kayvon Bussey, Oliver Shaw, Build Captain: Eric Coppinger, Programming Captain: Emmett Spaeth, Max Kleykamp, Dakshita Vobbineni, Natania Dhanagar, Design Captain: Abhi Tippireddy, Mentor – Mike Guillette, Mentor – Rey Surace
Events 2023 - 2024
· December 21, 2022 – UHSSE Robotics – Annie Fisher STEM Expo
· September 21, 2023 – UHSSE Robotics – Open House
· October 2023 - Bash at the Beach – Old Lyme High School
· January 27, 2024 – UHSSE Robotics – Open House
· March 3, 2024 - NE FIRST Robotics – Qualifying District Competition – Hartford, CT – 2nd Place
· March 9 & 10, 2024 – NE FIRST Robotics – Qualifying District Competition – Waterbury, CT
· March 27, 2024 - CT Manufacturer’s Fair – CT State Capital
· April 6, 2024 – NE FIRST Robotics – New England District Competition – Springfield, MA
· May 19, 2024 – NE FIRST Robotics – CIAC CT State Championship – Glastonbury, CT – 1st Place
· May 21, 2024 - Hartford Athletics STEM Expo – SMSA Soccer Field
Additional Team Members not pictured include Lauren Bird, Tyler Delaire, Haniya Musa, Aryana Namias, Robert Namias, Kwame Owusu. Congratulations on a great year, Dragons!
UHSSE FIRST Robotics Contact:
Eileen Kean - UHSSE 4-H Robotics Team1991 Lead Mentor
Email: EileenKean@comcast.net
Phone: (860) 692-2208
Jay Kean - UHSSE 4-H Robotics Team1991 Mentor
Email: Jaykeancell@gmail.com
Phone: (860) 306-0132
Website: www.team1991.com
Special thanks to UHSSE PTO Parent, Lai Ping Wong for the great information and photos!