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OPRF board recognizes state-champion robotics team and student entrepreneurship at May 22 meeting
Summary
The district honored multiple student teams — including the state-champion robotics team, synchronized swimming, badminton qualifiers and sustainability champions — and heard pitches from the business incubator class; teachers and student presenters urged continued support for experiential programs.
The Oak Park'River Forest Board of Education on May 22 recognized student achievements across athletics, performing arts and academics and heard presentations from the school's business incubator program.
The board heard from the OPRF robotics team and coach Anthony Romero, who brought students to describe how robotics prepared them for engineering studies and international competition. "These remarkable students exemplify their motto, those things that are best," said Joe Curtis, a special education teacher who chaperoned the team and described Worlds as "truly inspiring."
Representatives of synchronized swimming, badminton and the school's sustainability program also presented brief remarks. Badminton coach Maxwell and junior players highlighted that several students qualified for state competition in doubles, and synchronized swim students described the activity as "a perfect mix of artistry and athletics." The board thanked the student presenters and coaches during the recognition portion of the agenda.
The business incubator class showcased student startups from its yearlong program and described an end-of-year "Shark Tank" event funded by a community foundation award. One team, Orbit, described an onboarding-and-training app and told the board about their pitch to local "sharks" for investment. Student presenter Mikayla said, "Invest in Orbit, empowering users one skill at a time." Teacher Melissa Martinez said the incubator had 75 students on 18 teams this year and emphasized the program's role in producing college-level deliverables such as investment packages and pitch materials.
Board members and staff repeatedly thanked students and coaches for their work and encouraged continued support for programs that provide hands-on learning and competitive opportunities. No district funding decisions for these programs were recorded at the meeting during the recognition presentations.
The recognitions and presentations were part of the board's regular meeting program and were paired with other agenda business later in the evening.
