The Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Robotics club, the POBOTS, held their third annual Robot Rally on March 15 at Chestnut Grove Assisted Living Facility in Plainview.

The POBOTS, 2000 and 2001 LI for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Regional Robotics Competition winners, are once again representing the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district at this year's Regional. The POBOTS will also be competing in the FIRST Nationals in Houston this April 10 - 12.

Students were required to build a robot from start to finish. They were given specific requirements that they had to follow and the parts they were allowed to use to create a robot. Each team had six weeks to create their robot using the specification provided.

The club created a robot that can pick up four buckets at once. It weighs 120 pounds and can reach speeds above 30 miles per hour. It takes three people to operate it because of the flexibility - the arms open and close and also move up and down. The one they used at the rally was a replica of the one they created for competition.

The FIRST Long Island Regional will be held this weekend at the Suffolk County Community College campus, with over 35 teams participating. FIRST was founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, who believed that technology should be a major part of every school district's curriculum.

The students, teachers, and engineering volunteers of the POBOTS demonstrated the working of the robotics to the residents of the Chestnut Grove Assisted Living Facility.

The POBOTS have dedicated this entire year to William Swanson, a much beloved and respected Mattlin Middle School technology teacher and POBOTS founder who died suddenly, too young, and too soon at the beginning of the school year. This year's robot is nicknamed Swanny 5 in celebration and honor of Mr. Swanson. A presentation was made honoring Mr. Swanson. A video highlight of his tenure with the POBOTS was shown and a plaque was presented to his wife and son in honor of Mr. Swanson's dedication to the students.

"You all touched him in more ways than you'll ever know," said Patti Swanson.