By Young Se Choi ’18, Staff Writer

When it comes to making cool inventions and gadgets, no club comes close to the Robotics and Engineering Club. Whether it’s six propeller drones or a magnetic railroad track, you name it and this club has it all. Every Thursday, the Robotics and Engineering Club, led by Mr. Bob Bitler and seniors Alex Chang ’17, Amogh Anakru ’17, and Lance Tan ’17, comes together to work on each of their respective projects. The projects vary and range in size and also price. An example of a past project that was done by a group of sophomores last year was a table with no legs. To accomplish this, the students had to connect strings on the corners of a wooden table in order to attach it on to the ceiling of a room. Dean Tan ’18, a member of this group project said, “It was a really cool experience and something different and unique from our ordinary daily NA lives. It was something that me and a couple other friends actually invented and made.” This year, a project that a group in the club has been working on is a Frisbee thrower machine. With all the required parts acquired, all the group has to do is start building. Mr. Bitler comments, “the Robotics and Engineering club is off to a strong start. We have a lot of young bright individuals and an abundance of projects that were going to be starting this year. So I’m very excited.”

But how does the club fund these seemingly lucrative projects? How can one club afford all of the parts needed? Well, like every club, the Robotics and Engineering Club hosts bake sales as a means of funding for money. However, one funding aspect that sets the Robotics and Engineering Club apart from the others is its annual dodgeball tournament. With a five-dollar admission, the annual dodgeball tournament is a chance to hit your friends or even your favorite teachers. And while it is an opportunity to blow off some steam, it is also an opportunity to have fun in this stressful school year. The Robotics and Engineering dodgeball tournament not only is a unique experience to enjoy but is also an effective way for funding the variety of projects that are conducted by club members. I recently had the opportunity to speak to club leader Alex Chang ’17 about the overall dynamics of the club and how the club is going this year. He said, “I think everyone really gets along in the club. And I think the projects year after year are getting more extravagant and unique, which is always a good thing. Another thing I noticed was that more people are coming to the club so we’re off to a great start this year.”

The Robotics and Engineering Club seems to be one of the most unique and enjoyable clubs in the school. With love and passion for their work, each student is dedicated and motivated to complete his or her own project. Not only is this club a great foundation for starting your own projects and inventions, but it is also a prominent learning experience for all those who join.