stem program generates juice at global level
Two robotics teams compete internationally in spring 2023
It was an historic spring for the middle school STEM department at St. Paul’s Lutheran School of Des Peres in 2023. Teacher and Robotics Coach Kevin Rudzinski led two robotics teams to the Missouri Regional Championship of the FIRST LEGO League competition in January. Both teams advanced to international competitions!
The Gilded SPOTICS team (7th and 8th grades) placed second out of 32 teams, which qualified them to compete in the World Festival in Houston, TX in late April. The St. Paul’s team was paired with a team from Norway in that competition. They finished with their PR in the middle of the pack of more than 100 teams from around the world.
The SPOTICS Steampunk Chicken team (5th and 6th grades) qualified for the regional Razorback Open Invitational in Fayetteville, AR in mid-May. They were paired with a team from Israel in that competition. They were called back to present their project to a second set of judges and finished in the middle of 80 international teams.
Meanwhile, Kevin Rudzinski was named one of the top five finalists for the Loeb Prize at the Saint Louis Science Center on May 18 – the same day he left to join the SPOTICS Steampunk Chicken team in Arkansas. The Loeb Prize, which provides a combined $7,000 to five classroom teachers, is designed to award and recognize math and science teachers who significantly enhance student performance. The St. Paul’s 7th grade class accompanied Mr. Rudzinski to support him as he received his prize.
Student Lily Claus said of Rudzinski, “My science teacher, Mr. Rudzinski, is one of the greatest teachers of all time… He not only makes our science lessons easier to understand, he brings them to life with labs and hands-on experiences.”
In Rudzinski’s six years as math and science teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, he has led seven robotics teams to the state competition for FIRST LEGO League – and now he has put two teams on the world map.
“We are certainly proud of Mr. Rudzinski and our robotics students! With Mr. Rudzinski’s leadership, the students work hard to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to their projects and have developed a passion for this field,” commented Principal Dawn Walker.
About the Projects
This year’s FIRST LEGO League challenge was to explore where energy comes from and how it is distributed, stored, and used – and then use super-powered creativity to innovate for a better energy future.
The Gilded SPOTICS team designed a floor tile that produces electricity through piezoelectric technology. They plan to use floor tiles in high-trafficked areas in buildings to create supplemental electricity for the building.
The SPOTICS Steampunk Chicken team developed a solution for residences to generate electricity with compressed air as their energy source. Their product includes five components (small wind turbine, air compressor, series of storage tanks, motor, and electric generator) to produce energy when the power goes out or to supplement energy for the home.