The 65-student RoboRaiders team at Hillsborough High now includes 23 girls.
By: Donna Lukiw
Building robots isn’t just for nerds anymore.
At Hillsborough High School, the 65-student RoboRaiders team has been growing and increasingly, the ethnically-diverse team is gaining in the number of girls participating.
Last year, the team had 44 students participating, but much of the growth for this year has been thanks to the addition of girls. Michele Zubatkin, RoboRaiders advisor, said the team has more than doubled the number of girls on the team last year there were 10 girls and this year there are 23, making them 25 percent of the team.
"Science and engineering, in general, is becoming more open to females in the corporate world," junior Katie Bianchini said.
Sophomore Rohith Surampudi said besides the team attracting more women, it’s also becoming more popular with various ethnic groups.
"There’s no reason of why it’s becoming more and more diverse," Rohith said. "I think because Hillsborough is becoming more diverse and the team is picking up popularity."
Ms. Zubatkin said the team is comprised of Asians, Indians and Caucasians.
Katie said last year the team won two of the second highest honors including the Engineering Inspirational Award that encompasses not only the growth of the community but how the team interacts with the community as well.
This year, the team is hoping to win the highest award, the Chairman’s Award.
"We have community service projects lined up," Katie said. "We’re raising money for Darfur and Doctors Without Borders. We’re also trying to spread awareness in recognition of women in the workforce."
Rohith said another purpose of their team is to bring community awareness in engineering also.
While the teammates organize fundraisers and sponsors to help pay their traveling and other expenses, other students are in charge of building and maintaining their robot, named the "RebelRaider."
The Hillsborough robotics team worked with professional mentors from Johnson & Johnson to design and build the robot over a six-week period that solved a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules.
Last year’s challenge included a game called "Aim High," requiring robots to play a game similar to basketball where teams had goals in two corners and the center of a "court" to throw balls in.
"We’re very diverse," Katie said. "You learn a lot of different skills that would eventually benefit the team as a whole."
Johnson & Johnson is also working with the school in the Technology Awareness Program where students get to shadow a Johnson & Johnson employee, problem solve and learn what the employees do day to day.
The robotics team will be kicking off the new season Jan. 6 in Manchester, Conn., where the team will learn what this year’s game will require its robot to do.

