Last weekend, Maintenance Services went beyond the East Lansing campus borders to power a Detroit high school robotics competition.

On March 13, the Physical Plant Tool Room loaned three portable generators for a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) Robotics District Competition at Cass Technical High School in Detroit.

Kyle Foster, assistant director at MSU College of Engineering, contacted Director of Building Services Gus Gosselin about partnering with Cass Tech High School for its competition.

"(President) Simon thought it was important to have MSU's presence in southeast Michigan," Foster said. "So when the robotics competition came up, it was great opportunity to do so."

Gosselin asked Electrical Skilled Trades Supervisor John Nurenberg and Electrical Planner/Inspector/Analyst II Mike Ramirez to coordinate supplying the generators.

"The University was intent on participating in the (Cass Tech) robotics competition," Gosselin said, explaining how the Physical Plant got involved.

Materials & Logistics Worker II Rodney Brown and Laborer I Doug Osmer helped load the generators into Marshall Tollberg’s vehicle. Tollberg then transported the generators to Cass Tech.

This was the first time the Physical Plant provided such assistance to Cass Tech High School. The competition invited high school robotics teams and their robots to compete in intensive game play in hopes of advancing to the state competition in April.

For more information on the College of Engineering’s involvement in the competition, visit www.news.msu.edu/story/6069. For videos explaining the FIRST competition, visit www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=418.

March 19, 2009