Science education at Sion has taken on a new form, and it has wheels.

The robotics club was added to the white Friday club schedule this semester with help from Katherine Bloemker, Sion alumna and assistant teaching professor of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Principal Michelle Olson said they are hoping this club will provide girls with opportunities in the field of science that have not been available in the past.

“We want to give girls interested in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] careers more exposure,” Olson said.

Technology and practical arts teacher and club sponsor Amy Shapley agrees that the club fills a space that wasn’t available to students before.

“We really wanted to increase student involvement in science, math and engineering education,” Shapley said.

Some of the new club members have already experienced working with robots first hand. Freshman Abbey Valentine said she attended two robotics camps over the summer.

“I went to a robotics camp with my friend at Lee’s Summit West this summer,” Valentine said. “I saw that they had a robotics team and the experience made me want join the club at Sion.”

As a club, they have already started experimenting with creating their first model. Olson said that during the first after school club meeting the girls created a robot in 45 minutes.

“I was amazed by what they could accomplish in such a short period of time,” she said.

They have begun to familiarize themselves with different kinds of methods of building robots with help from UMKC’s Society of Women Engineers. Even guided by SWE the club wants to focus on long term goals.

“We are hoping to compete in the First Tech Challenge next year,” freshman Sarah Tritt said.