MILFORD, Conn. — Story by Kayla Markowitz and Harshitha Kothapalli - Jonathan Law High School
Students from the Milford Robotics team are gearing up for the upcoming competitive season.
The Robotics team, MOJO, consists of students from two high schools in Milford - Joseph A. Foran and Jonathan Law. Annually, their team robot competes in a series of matches led by First Robotics.
The competitions are directed and led by FRC under the first organization which is designed to encourage students to constantly improve and build a better world.
Co-founders Kris and Lori Seluga built the team to empower younger generations to hone into their STEM futures. “It’s really about the students,” Seluga said. “It’s about giving them opportunities to learn about the program, to learn about the skills that they will be able to use going beyond.
One of the taglines for FRC is it’s the one sport that every student can go pro in, which is really great. The whole idea is to introduce students to engineering and get people excited.”
Last season, MOJO won their division at Worlds in Houston, Texas. They walked away with the title of Alliance Captain and with pride for their hometown. The team has recently been working tirelessly five days a week to try to defend their title at Worlds this season.
Team Captain Gavin Nett has helped lead MOJO as they build a fully functioning robot from scratch over a span of eight weeks. “I gained a lot of leadership knowledge from working with MOJO - and teamwork skills,” Nett said. “I learned how to work with other people and accomplish big things.”
MOJO creates a space where students have a sense of belonging no matter their background. It fosters a community and inspires every teen to get involved. In particular, it prides itself on promoting STEM careers for girls. Jonathan Law High School sophomore Harshitha Kothapalli says she enjoys MOJO’s inclusivity. “I was always someone who was opposed to the STEM field and this team really allowed me to open my eyes to a whole new world,” Kothapalli said. “Something that is really special about this team is its diversity and sincerity. MOJO is a fee-free team and it is always ready to welcome new students no matter their background.”
The team’s legacy roots behind their name, MOJO, meant to promote a motivated and positive outlook in robotics and in life.
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