Walpole robotics program showcases Legato robot, reports divisional finalist finish at world championship
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Summary
Walpole High School’s FRC program presented its robot, highlighted engineering awards and two Dean’s List recognitions, and described outreach and junior-team growth at the May 15 School Committee meeting.
Walpole High School’s robotics program presented its competition robot, described a successful season and thanked the School Committee for district support during a May 15 demonstration and report.
Brian Gaffey, the team coordinator, told the committee the team’s entry for the year’s game “Reefscape” was built to manipulate two distinct game pieces—12‑inch PVC “coral” pieces and 16‑inch “kick balls” representing algae—and the robot’s dual-arm design allowed the team to handle both elements. Gaffey said the team’s on‑field performance made it “one of the best robots in the world at scoring the kickball element” and that the program won multiple engineering awards, including the program’s first autonomous-programming award.
The team reported it advanced to the world championship in Houston as a divisional finalist, placing the program among approximately the top 48 teams worldwide at the event. Two students from the program were selected as Dean’s List award honorees in New England—recognitions the team described as honoring student leaders and STEM advocates.
Students and alumni who spoke described the robot’s design and operation, demonstrated the robot’s intake and shooting mechanisms to the committee and explained how the team’s work has translated into post‑graduation plans; at least two students cited college acceptances in engineering programs. The team also described growth of a junior‑varsity “PopCups” program and partnerships with the Walpole Public Library to run FIRST Lego League teams.
Committee members praised the students for technical skill, teamwork and public speaking. Several board members noted the program’s combined emphasis on engineering and community values—what the robotics community calls “coopertition”—and thanked adult mentors and parents who support the team.
Speakers at the item included team coordinator Brian Gaffey and student team members who identified themselves as seniors and juniors on the FRC team, including Bridal (Brendan) Conover, Juthu Prashant, Zena Girhotra and others.
