Breaking Records and Building Futures

Harrison

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Due West Robotics PIT Center podcast. I'm Harrison, and I'm here with Kim. Today, we're diving into some of the coolest stuff happening in robotics right here in Due West, South Carolina.

Kim

Hey y'all! Super excited for this one. I feel like people don't always realize how much is going on in our little town, especially with robotics. Like, it's not just a big city thing, you know?

Harrison

Yeah, totally. I mean, Due West Robotics started out with this mission to bring STEM to local youth, and it's wild how much it's grown. We've got everything from Jr. FIRST Lego League for the little kids, to FIRST Lego League, then FIRST Tech Challenge, and of course, our FRC team, The Due Westerners. It's like, every age group gets a shot at building and learning.

Kim

And it's not just about building robots, right? It's about, like, learning how to work together, solve problems, and just get your hands dirty. I started out on the business side, but honestly, I wish I'd joined sooner. Harrison, you basically grew up in this program, didn't you?

Harrison

Yeah, I did. I started with the FIRST programs when I was, like, six. I remember my first Lego robot—well, it barely moved, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And, I mean, being part of Due West Robotics just kind of lit that fire for me. Every year, I learned something new—mechanical stuff, coding, even, like, how to use a CNC machine. It's all connected, and honestly, I don't know where I'd be without it.

Kim

That's so true. I feel like a lot of us wouldn't have even thought about STEM careers if it wasn't for this program. It's just, like, opened up so many doors, especially for kids in a rural place like Due West.

Kim

Okay, so, we have to talk about last season. The Due Westerners had, like, the craziest year ever. Top three at regionals and, what, three world records? That's not normal for a team that's only been around since 2021.

Harrison

Yeah, it still feels kind of unreal. I mean, our robot was just on another level this year. We tried some new strategies—like, I don't wanna give away all our secrets, but we really focused on efficiency and reliability. There was this one match where everything just clicked, and we broke the world record for points scored. And then, somehow, we did it two more times. I still can't believe it.

Kim

It was wild. I remember the energy in the room—like, everyone was just losing it. And after that, it felt like the whole town was talking about robotics. Even the elementary schools started asking how they could get involved. I think those wins really showed people here that, like, yeah, we can do big things, even from a small town.

Harrison

Yeah, and it wasn't just the students. Local businesses started reaching out, wanting to help or sponsor us. And the schools—like, they actually started looking at robotics as something important, not just an after-school thing. It's kind of changed how people see STEM around here.

Kim

Exactly. It's like, once people saw what was possible, they wanted to be part of it. We've got new partnerships popping up, and it's all because of what the team accomplished last season. I mean, it's not just about trophies—it's about showing what's possible when you give students the right tools and support.

Harrison

And that's kind of the heart of Due West Robotics, right? It's all about hands-on learning. Like, you don't just sit in a classroom and talk about engineering—you actually build stuff, mess up, fix it, and learn for real. I think that's what makes it stick.

Kim

Yeah, and it's not just students doing it alone. We've got mentors, local businesses, and even Erskine College working with us. That partnership with Erskine has been huge—they let us use their space, and some of their students help mentor. It's like, the whole community is in on it.

Harrison

And, like, that's something other rural places could totally do. You don't need a giant city or a ton of money. If you get schools, local colleges, and businesses to work together, you can build something awesome. I mean, we're proof of that.

Kim

Yeah, and I think the big thing is just not being afraid to try new stuff. Like, we didn't know we'd break world records, but we kept pushing and learning. If other rural teams see that, maybe they'll realize they can do it too. It's all about giving students a chance to get hands-on and dream a little bigger.

Harrison

Totally. And, uh, I guess that's a good place to wrap up for today. Thanks for hanging out with us and listening to our story. There's a lot more coming from Due West Robotics, so stick around for future episodes.

Kim

Yeah, thanks everyone! Harrison, always fun talking with you. See y'all next time!

Harrison

You too, Kim. Bye everyone!