Commissioner Larry Jarboe and the team of Great Mills’ Engineering club. ST. MARY’S TODAY photo by Ahmar Khan

Jarboe, Great Mills Team Bring Home Two Trophies
Robotics has no Money to Attend National Event
 

By Ahmar Khan
ST. MARY’S TODAY

GREAT MILLS — Great Mills High School Engineering Club, led by physics teacher Allen Skinner, won two more records at the east coast “NEDRA (National Electric Drag Racing Association) Power of D.C.” competition event last week, Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach) informed the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday.
The race took place in Hagerstown.
“You deserve to be congratulated on it,” Commissioner President Tommy McKay (R.Hollywood) told Jarboe, who has been involved with the team’s work of designing the electric cars for three years in a row now.
“Great Mills now has the fastest high school electric car in the country,” said Skinner.
In the sweltering heat Thursday afternoon, a sun-burnt Jarboe was on campaign trail, joining the winning students of Great Mills High School to mark their success. He was flanked by Alex Mercado, 16, Keith Stone, 15, T.J. Patton, 15 and Jake Bosse, 16. Also present was an old time friend John Edwards of the Town Creek Shop. “He stuck me in,” Jarboe said of Edwards.
“At the Hagerstown event, a guy from Ohio was surprised how we do all this in St. Mary’s. I told him the Board of Education, Board of County Commissioners and the navy base work as a team to make it happen,” Jarboe said.
Mercado proudly showed his prowess.
“When we use 24 batteries it’s extremely fast,” Mercado said as he conducted a demonstration.
“Let me do a burnout,” he said, as he screeched the vehicle, hidden from Jarboe’s view.
Jarboe uses the energy efficient, 100-miles a gallon Mustang to go to the BOCC meeting to promote awareness about fuel conservation. “I also go to work in it,” he said.
“Extravagant fuel consumption causes global warming and we invite nature’s wrath in the form of hurricanes,” Jarboe warned.
The commissioner is firmly convinced global terrorism is subsidized by the U.S. because of the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. A follower of John McCain, Jarboe said anyone who comes up with ideas to reduce dependence on oil is silenced either by flashing of dollars or by guns.
Earlier on May 6, the Great Mills High School engineering club also participated in a national robotics competition, called the greater DC Regional Botball Tournament.
The robots that took part in the competition are completely autonomous, meaning that there is no remote control.
Great Mills School was the only team from entire Southern Maryland to participate in the program, said Skinner. The team consisted of Stephen Won, Rachel Alonzo, Koutney Baker, Anibal Fermaint, Onna Roloson, Charlie Cox, Thomas Connor and Justin Hanrahan.
“This time the team did exceptionally well,” said Skinner. “For the first time the team has qualified to attend the national tournament in Norman, Oklahoma, in July.”
Skinner said the team needs sponsorship to go to the tournament, pay for room, board and entry fees, a total of $8,000.
“In exchange for sponsorship, we would display the sponsoring company’s logo on our team t-shirts and on our robots while they compete,” said Skinner.
Those interested in helping may contact Allen Skinner at Great Mills High School, phone 301-863-4001or e-mail: caskinner@smcps.org