From April 3–6, UMEI Christian High School’s Robotics Team competed at the FIRST Robotics Ontario Provincial Championships in Mississauga, an event that brings together the best high school robotics teams from across the province.
Despite being a small school of just 64 students, UMEI held its own on the big stage, finishing in the top half of all teams in Ontario. This year’s challenge, Reefscape, demanded innovation, precision, and resilience.
UMEI’s robot executed a three-part deep hang – one of the most difficult achievements in this year’s game – and operated with an average cycle time of 10 seconds, moving coral from the human player station to the reef with impressive speed.
The robot was ambitious in design, incorporating many moving parts that challenged the team’s programming and problem-solving skills.
“We learned a lot about the importance of simplicity,” said Liam Brown, Grade 12 student, lead engineer, and driver.
“It helped us understand how more reliable control systems, like P.I.D. and path planners, will give us faster cycle times and better performance next year.”
But robotics at UMEI is more than just mechanics and code. The team functions like a full-scale business, complete with public relations, branding, budgeting, sponsorship, and safety protocols.
Amirah Wieler, a Grade 11 student and the team’s Safety Captain, was awarded Safety All-Star, an award voted on by 50 other teams at the provincial championship.
This makes her the top safety captain in Ontario, an incredible accomplishment that recognizes her emergency plans, equipment management, and commitment to her team’s well-being.
Christina Janzen, a Grade 12 student and head of PR and finance, ensured the team stayed on track with fundraising, branding, and community engagement.
“I’ve learned so much about donor relations, spreadsheets, and organizing finances,” said Christina, who will attend the University of Windsor for Mechanical Engineering. “It was a great learning experience and I feel prepared for the organization, pressure, and time management of university.”
Grade 12 students Sharon Latam and Shannon Douglas led scouting efforts.
They supported by a wide range of underclassmen, including Grade 9 students Colby Snoei, Katriella Omstead, and Avalon Fleming, who also contributed to robot construction and emerging donor relations.
Other junior team members, such as Cameron Douglas, Josh Krahn, Brodie Bergen, and Jenna Cziraky, played critical roles in finance, PR, building, and electrical work.
“The most exciting part of this year,” said Liam, “is knowing how much we learned. I’m already looking forward to using that experience next year to compete at an even higher level.”
With new talent stepping up and experienced team members paving the way, UMEI Robotics continues to prove that small schools can lead in big ways.
Click here to watch a reel about Robotics at the University of Windsor competition