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Mayor Tanaka Proclaims Science and Technology Week in Coronado

CHS Principal Kurt Mueller, Physics Teacher David Bucko, Mayor Tanaka, Crown City Robotics President Valere Lambert and Crown City Robotics Team Member Morgan Montgomery during the official proclamation of Science and Technology Week in Coronado.

On Tuesday, June 1, Mayor Casey Tanaka proclaimed the first week of June 2010 as Science and Technology Week in Coronado. This proclamation was issued to recognize Coronado High School's Crown City Robotics Team (CCR) as well as the inauguration of Coronado High School's new STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) curriculum which starts this fall.

CCR’s 2010 competition robot, “Marilyn”, took center stage in City Council Chambers after demonstrating her nimbleness and speed running through the aisle. Marilyn was driven by CCR President Valere Lambert with a pit crew of CCR member Morgan Montgomery and CCR Alumnus and Team Mentor Kenny Nierenhausen.

Kurt Mueller, Principal of CHS, Bill Lemei, AP Physics and math teacher and David Bucko, Physics teacher, were honored for their vision, support and coaching of the robotics team. Over the past year, Mr. Mueller formed and facilitated a task force of local engineering and technology professionals which helped identify specific areas of study corresponding to current and future employment trends. This team also reviewed and weighed in on various STEM programs available. Utilizing these recommendations, Mr. Mueller and the CHS staff will be implementing "Project Lead the Way, Pathway to Engineering" this fall.

Councilwoman Carrie Downey spearheaded the proclamation effort after reading on eCoronado.com about CCR’s very successful entry in the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition which was held at the San Diego Sports Arena in March.
( http://www.ecoronado.com/profiles/blogs/crown-city-robotics-in-high )

Valere Lambert, Marilyn the Robot, Carrie Downey and Morgan Montgomery celebrate Coronado's "Science and Technology Week"

Text of the Proclamation:

Whereas, on June 20, 2008, Congressional Research Service
Report questioned whether the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education received by all Americans at the pre-college level is sufficient quality to be able to satisfy current and future workforce needs; and

Whereas, Coronado High School student Jon McKay approached CHS administration last year to initiate the formation of a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Team at Coronado High School; and

Whereas, without additional funding or time, CHS Principal Karl Mueller and AP Physics and Math Teacher Bill Lemei saw the need to develop STEM skills in CHS students and agreed to advise the students in their endeavor to construct a robot to compete in the FIRST Competition; and

Whereas, this year’s team, led by Val Lambert, Robotics Club President, and coached by Bill Lemei and CHS Physics teacher David Bucko, were successful in constructing a robot, named Marilyn, who competed in all 10 rounds of the FIRST Competition; and

Whereas, community groups and corporate sponsors such as the Coronado Optimists, Coronado Rotary Club, Goodrich Aerostructures, Nypro and Qualcomm, supported the CHS FIRST team financially due to their belief in students with initiative with the willingness to develop STEM skills; and

Whereas, Coronado High School will next year begin offering to all students the “Project Lead the Way, Pathway to Engineering” courses (a four-year series taught in conjunction with traditional math and science classes) to help Coronado students develop the skills needed in today’s workforce; and

Whereas, Coronado supports and thanks the parents, teachers, advisors, community groups, and engineers that have volunteered their time and money to promote STEM skills in our City and among our residents.

Now, Therefore, I, Casey Tanaka, by the power vested in me as the Fiftieth Mayor of the City of Coronado, together with the full City Council of the City of Coronado, do hereby proclaim the first week of June 2010 as:

“Science and Technology Week”

in the City of Coronado, and join in celebrating the success of Marilyn the Robot and encourage others to promote the development of Science and Technology skills and education.

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