Robot
The story of the School's Robotics cannot be told without mentioning the student behind its genesis: Dennis Ren. In 2012, Dennis arrived part way through Grade 9 with an abundance of curiosity and confidence. His ambitious projects became more and more dangerous, including an electromagnetic nail gun and a crossbow built from scratch, and a Tesla coil that sent sparks flying across the Hobbies Building. Sympathetic but concerned staff enjoyed his inventive spirit, but felt some urgency to find a safe outlet for his creative intellect and so steered him toward a new robotics competition in the area. A few other students jumped on board and voila! The Robot Club was born.
With staff guidance and determined effort, the team qualified for the VEX Robotics Provincial Championships in 2012-2013 and brought home several trophies their first year. The next year, when Dennis was in Grade 12, he led a team that qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championships in Anaheim, California, where they earned the Think Award for Excellence in Design, and first place worldwide for programming. Dennis, not surprisingly, has moved on to more success in university and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Robotics Club at Shawnigan continues to thrive. The activity found a home in the vacated and repurposed Rifle Range. Typically, 24-40 students are involved in the program each year, and the VEX IQ program for younger students has been added. In the VEX program, students develop skills in mechanical design and engineering, and in coding. As the VEX Robotics website states, “Competition brings STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to life!” Tournaments are held year-round at the regional and national levels, and culminate in the VEX Robotics World Championships each April. The School’s team has been invited to the World Competition six times.
At the Worlds in Dallas, Texas in April 2024, the School's "Roboteers" placed 8th out of 82 teams in their division, before being eliminated in the quarter-finals. With over 800 teams of 4 from all over the globe, the scale of this exciting competition is grand. Participants, our students included, are inspired to see where their robotics and STEM skills can take them.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
