The STEM technology and ability to learn it, it should be easily available to any student at any school. We see more often than not that schools have to scale back on offerings as populations sink, enrollment drops and funding struggles from the state and other traditional sources. Resourceful people in Muskegon like Mike Gerstweiler who owns Pribusin Technologies want to continue fostering the young minds who are developing their love for creation, so he formed a “community robotics” team where kids from schools can participate on the First Robotics Platform. It’s kinda a big deal.
From the First Robotics website – “The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school program where students design and build large robots to play a timed field game. Founded in 1989, the organization connects teenagers with professional mentors to teach engineering, fundraising, and teamwork. As described by FIRST, “Starting with a Kit of Parts, teams of high school students design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game, released in January.” If you’ve never been to a competition, let me tell you. They are intense, engaging and there’s little or no downtime. The teams come in from all over the state and the competition is as tough as any playoff football game you’ve ever seen.
Locally there are 11 school districts in Muskegon county, 7 of which have their own robotics teams. That leaves a lot of space for kids at the other 5. Even private schools, home schools and some others can find their way in to the fold at M.A.R.S. This is the give back of Mike Gerstweilier, who at one point…had the advantage of mentors himself who stuck around after school to allow him to learn and grow into the field of dreams he wanted to be in. It’s time to return it to the future of the craft…and he’s going all in on it with the space at his company. Newly renovated and filled with dedicated equipment and tools for the projects build and completion when the project comes along in January.
There will be an open house to being your kids in and meet the team!! September 15th, from 6-8p. Location is his shop. Pribusin is located at 743 Marquette in Muskegon. Pretty unassuming building….there will be some signs outfront to show you where they are. It’s a really valuable experiential learning experience for kids and this is a team that we’ve been working with for years and can attest to the quality, dedication and determination that is put into every student they welcome.
To learn more about the M.A.R.S. 4004 team CLICK HERE
