Another one for the trophy case

Newton High School's robotics team wins another Engineering Inspiration Award NEWTON — Newton High School’s robotics team won another level of the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Mid-Atlantic Robotics Regional Championship held recently at the Liacouras Center at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. The Engineering Inspiration Award, second only to the FIRST Chairman’s Award, recognizes Team Aperture’s efforts to educate their school and community about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization that promotes science and technology learning in schools. With demonstrations at schools, the New Jersey State Fair, earning varsity status, and their assistance with the NASA Downlink Exposition 30, Team Aperture has one more opportunity this season to bring even more accolades to their school. The group will compete at the FIRST World Championship to be held April 25-28 in St. Louis, MO. “Without the ongoing support of our community and schools, we wouldn’t have made it to Philadelphia to capture this prestigious regional award,” said Jim Hofmann, a technology teacher at Halsted Middle School in Newton and coach of the Newton High School FIRST Robotics team. “I am prouder than proud of this group of students and our three-year-old team. We’re competing with schools that have been doing this for five, ten, 15 years in some cases, and we’re stacking up just great. It is a true tribute to the huge community effort that has been put forth to help make this team successful.” The most immediate hurdle for the team to clear is last minute fundraising to make the St. Louis trip possible. Team Aperture needs to raise an estimated $30,000. To date, with the cooperation and support of the Newton community, the team has raised about $12,500. “We've been fundraising ever since earning the invitation to St. Louis and it's slow going, but we are working very hard and diligently at the task,” said Hofmann. “We can’t thank the community enough for their ongoing support." Two additional fundraisers are planned. A car wash will be held on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., across from St. Paul’s Abby on Route 206 in Newton. Then, from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, 10 percent of all food sales at Krogh’s Restaurant and Brew Pub will be donated to the team. Any party presenting a promotional flyer will earn the team an additional $2. Krogh’s is located at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta. To help the Newton High School's FIRST Robotics Team, or to learn more about upcoming fundraisers, call Hofmann at Halsted Middle School at 973-903-9774.