Building robots and competing in an annual competition is just one part of what being a member of First Robotics team T-Rx 145 is all about. In addition, students learn to be team players, cooperate with students in other school districts and the importance of community service.

The group, which is currently made up of approximately 20 students in ninth through twelfth grade, includes students from five area schools. Students from Sherburne, Oxford, Bainbridge-Guilford and Unadilla Valley join the students in Norwich to make up team 145. The team welcomes students with many different areas of interest. Students do everything from design and building the robot and the controls, to public relations for the group and soliciting donations. In addition to the student participation, the group also has approximately ten community member mentors.

Ninth grader Emily Perry explained the organization revolves around a robotics competition. Each group in the world-wide organization works to create an operational robot in six weeks. “It’s a lot of collaboration,” Perry said.