A rising senior at Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey, Florida has created a free community robotics program called Regency Robotics as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Ana Thomas designed the initiative to introduce elementary and middle school students to robotics, coding, and engineering through hands-on activities at the Regency Park Branch Library. Participants engage in programming robots to complete obstacle courses, follow colors, pick up toy dinosaurs, and navigate various barriers during these educational sessions. Thomas expressed her enthusiasm for seeing young participants enjoy these activities and hopes they will be inspired to pursue robotics-related careers in the future. The program demonstrates that robotics education is accessible outside traditional classroom settings, with families able to purchase beginner kits for approximately sixty-five dollars to continue learning at home. According to the National Science Foundation, STEM occupations have grown nearly three times faster than non-STEM jobs over the past decade, highlighting the importance of cultivating interest in these fields. Thomas aspires to work in aerospace engineering after witnessing NASA’s Artemis II mission preparations and plans to expand her program to additional locations throughout Pasco County.
Pasco High School Student Shares Robotics Passion With Younger Students Through Free Program
