- Team 76 DRIVEN Nuts (Broomall, PA)
The Driven Nuts team for the 2010-2011 Round-Up season consists of all rookies. Most were part of a First Lego League team prior to this year, but all were new to the VEX system. At their very first competition they made it to the finals, in addition to winning the Build Award. At their second competition they made it to the semi-finals and received the esteemed Excellence Award, which qualified them for the World Championship in Orlando, Florida. This is the first year that the Driven Nuts program has received the Excellence Award. The team is (clockwise from back left):
Mea Rose St. Amour, 13 years old.
“I homeschool. In previous years I have been on a First Lego League Team, but this is my first year on Vex and so far I have had a lot of fun and hope to continue next year. Some of my other hobbies are art and piano.”
John Eli St. Amour, 15 years old.
Eli was on a First Lego League team for 5 years, and graduated to Driven Nuts this year. He is a boyscout and enjoys beekeeping.
Luke Momjian, 16 years old
“I am a Christian homeschooler and in 10th grade. I started with robotics 3 years ago when I joined the ROBOWhizards, an FLL team, and moved on to Vex this year with Driven Nuts. My favorite things to do on the team is drive the robot at competitions. I like robotics because it is a great way to learn about engineering and teamwork while having fun. Outside of Vex, my interests include art and writing.”
Dana Swieson
Robotics coach in his 10th year of coaching! Can I hear a woot woot?
Julia Swieson, 15 years old.
I have been homeschooled my entire life. This was my first year doing VEX, but I was part of a First Lego League team called the ROBOWhizards five years before this. In addition to robotics, I enjoy photography, art, singing, and playing guitar and piano. I very much dislike school and learning.”
Maddie Greiner, 15 years old.
“I am a freshman at C.P.F.A. which is an arts cyber school. My biggest passion in life is art, which i intend to pursue a career in. This is my first year at robotics, hopefully the first of many. My second favorite thing is fostering animals for the SPCA. We have even been featured on Animal Planet three times for our work.”
Seth Greiner, 14 years old
“I have homeschooled my whole life except when my family was on “Wife Swap” and we were made to go to school. My main hobbies are fishing, printmaking, pottery-wheel (throwing) and xbox360. I joined robotics this year with my sister (Maddie) and hope to continue every year.”
Several alumni of the Nuts love to come back from college to mentor and teach the current students. The alumni include: James Swieson, Caleb Swieson, Lorelei Serafim-Linnebur, Dan Barr, and others.
Team 76’s robot’s name is Carl (pronounced: Caaaaarl). He’s been through a lot this year.
