Seneca Valley
SCHOOL DISTRICT
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SINGING
TOGETHER
T
Seneca Valley Raider Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge Team. Back row (L-R): Dalton Reese, Felipe
Junqueria, Mackenzie McIntyre and Jocelyn McNany. Middle row (L-R) Bri Buccini, Kyra Rodgers, Jocelyn
Krieger and Emily Richards. Front row: Coach Steve Fortunato.
ROBOTS, ACTIVATE!
T
he Seneca Valley Raider Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team
placed second out of 16 teams at the Pennsylvania FTC Scrimmage at
North Catholic High School on Nov. 23.
FTC releases a new competition challenge the first week of September
and the teams have just a few short months to design, build and compete.
“Not only did we build our robot from scratch, but we also built a replica of
the competition course in order to practice,” says Seneca Valley Robotics Coach
and Applied Engineering and Technology Teacher Steve Fortunato.
This was SV’s first year starting an FTC team and consists of ten students
who signed-up as an advanced experience opportunity. The students involved
include Bri Buccini, Felipe Junqueria, Dalton Reese, Emily Richards, Mackenzie
McIntyre, Jocelyn McNany, Kyra Rodgers, Charlotte Purcell, Zach Garcia and
Jocelyn Krieger.
“Although I could not be prouder of the Raider Robotics team for their
second-place award, the real prize was seeing one of the best displays
of authentic learning,” said Mr. Fortunato. “These students demonstrated
exemplary problem-solving skills, grit and empathy. As a teacher, nothing is
more rewarding.”
The team will now advance to a state qualifying competition in Johnstown,
Pa on Dec. 7. The team will compete again in Gibsonia, Pa on Jan. 11 in hopes to
qualify for state championships.
The FTC is designed for students in grades 7–12 to compete head to head, by
designing, building, and programming a robot to compete in an alliance format
against other teams.
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wenty-three students
represented Seneca Valley at
the recent Pennsylvania Music
Educators Association (PMEA)
Honors Chorus concert held at
Westminster College on Nov. 2.
The 96 students in the
PMEA Honors Chorus were
selected from auditions held at
Westminster College Oct. 18-19.
SV participants who performed
at the festival included Ethan
Bannon, Rylie Butler, Anna Byers,
Sammi Carter, Seth Cratsley,
Kyle Davidson , Cole Eckenrode,
Nicholas Folino, John Gargasz,
Elizabeth Hixon, Leta Hixon, Trey
Hixon, Micah Link, Sarah McKinley,
Alex Mortier, Chris Noah, Greta
Schmidt, Jonah Smeltzer, Cassidy
Spencer, Riley Surratt, Bryce
White, Mark Wimer and Caroline
Zulick.
Students from Butler, Beaver,
Mercer and Lawrence counties
were able to audition to make it
into the choir.
Seneca Valley students representing the
Honors Chorus held at Westminster College
on Nov. 2.