WIN Waste boosts Pioneer Charter School robotics team

  (Editor’s Note: WIN Wastes Innovations issued the following press release.)

Students at Pioneer Charter School of Science 2 in Saugus will be competing in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) robotics competition in California, with some help from WIN Waste Innovations.

Thirteen students and two teachers from Pioneer will travel to the West Coast for the December 5 competition. WIN Waste is covering food and transportation costs for the students while they are in California.

“We are always grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with schools and students,” said Mary Urban, Senior Director of Communications & Community at WIN Waste. “STEM is closely aligned with our work at the facility and serves as a vital pipeline for future careers. We are dedicated to supporting these initiatives. We have a longstanding commitment to supporting students in Saugus and are pleased to contribute toward making this trip a memorable experience.”

For the competition, Pioneer Charter is sending two teams of students, along with faculty advisors Isa Kilic and Andi Alla. One team is building an autonomous robot that is able to transport multiple liters of water to a holding bucket within one minute. The other team is designing an Archimedes screw to move water to a higher elevation. Last year, Pioneer Charter 2 finished in second place in one of the competitions.

Elliott Casey, plant manager at WIN Waste, visited the school November 7 to discuss the waste-to-energy process and electricity generation produced at the facility. Casey, who has a degree in Marine Engineering Operations from Maine Maritime University, also answered questions about the role engineering plays at WIN Waste and potential career paths. The students will be visiting WIN Waste for a tour in the future.

“It’s always great to meet with the next generation of engineers,” Casey said. “The students were engaged and asked excellent questions. We wish them the best in the competition and are happy to support their work.”

The Pioneer Charter students are scheduled to travel to California on December 4 and return on December 7.