[August 12, 2011] Teens can attend AWC robotic class Tweet Aug 11, 2011 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- High school students in Yuma will have the unique opportunity to attend a competitive robotics class at Arizona Western College this fall. After the initial forming of the "Gila Monsters" Yuma Community Team last year, the rookie team took the Arizona Regional Robotic Competition and placed 15th out of 45 teams. This year, they turned the team into a college class which will meet in room AS-101 on AWC's main campus every Tuesday from Aug. 16 until Nov. 29 at 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Professor Rakesh Pangasa, who will be teaching the class, explained that any high school student interested in robotics can enroll but there are only 24 spots available, noting that a few students from last year have already started signing up. He said that the class will consist of lectures by himself as well as industry mentors. Additionally, students will make two Saturday visits to industry partners including the General Motors Desert Proving Ground in Yuma and the other location has yet to be determined, Pangasa said. Student participation through web-research and discussions as well as some fundraising activities will also be a part of the course. He added that the team will continue to be sponsored by GM Desert Proving Ground and JCPenney as it was last year. "Students will have fun while exploring and developing innovative solutions for the ever-growing needs and desires of world-wide population through the use of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; facilitated with professional guidance from industry leaders and faculty from academic institutions," Pangasa said. "Learning experiences for both students and mentors will help groom and spread gracious professionalism and engineering leadership. I expect the students will learn to appreciate the importance of, and develop skills in planning, organizing, communicating, working in teams and networking. This will help develop their rational thinking." For more information contact Pangasa, at [email protected] or at 928-344-7588. Sarah Womer can be reached at [email protected] or 539-6858. To see more of The Sun or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.yumasun.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]