Student Spotlight

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The PCA STEM Team competed in the 4th annual Governor’s STEM Challenge in Las Cruces, NM at the New Mexico State University Campus on December 3, 2022. The team, coached by Jeanne Kumpunen and Jennah McKinley, was a winner in the competition again for the 4th time in a row.  Karma Bromwell, Ronan Euler, Annabelle Mauger, Caleb Mauger, Norman Mauger, and Riley Morris were given the challenge to create a product that utilized green initiatives to better the lives of people in either their community, their city or their state. The team created a robot called BuddyRR who is used as seeing eye companion. At this time, BuddyRR has been designed to guide and assist visually impaired individuals when visiting a store to purchase items. BuddyRR (Retail Rover) pairs with an app and an Arduino Mega 2560 along with miscellaneous pieces from a recycled robotics kit. The robot uses UV and ultrasonic sensors that help the robot move within its specified area. The robot includes both a “list” and “map” feature that allows the user to upload a shopping list and a map of the store is programmed in to increase the user-friendliness of the Rover. 

From the 11 competitions that the team has competed in, they have won a net value of $20,000 in scholarship money and have built unforgettable friendships. They have also learned how to use a number of different programs and technologies as well as how to collaborate as a team and with various business partners and the New State University in Las Cruces.