Members of Garrett County’s Public High School FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 1629, GaCo, recently visited Kent County High School on the eastern shore of Maryland. The purpose of the trip was to share information about Garrett County’s FIRST robotics program and help recruit students for a new FRC team in Kent County Public Schools.
Kent County learned about the FIRST Robotics Competition from a presentation GaCo students made at last year’s Common Ground – Maryland’s premier professional development conference for PK-12 educators. One of the purposes GaCo has in sharing about its program at K-12 education conferences is to find other rural school systems to replicate its program, empowering their students to make a difference in STEM education.
One of the teachers who attended GaCo’s session from Kent County contacted the team with a desire to start a FIRST robotics program, like Garrett County’s. Since then, Kent County has secured funding and officially registered a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team for the 2027 season. The next step was to recruit students, which was the purpose of GaCo’s trip, as well as to meet with administrative staff and parents.
Kent County has the distinction of being the least populated county in Maryland, with only about 20,000 people total – just a few less than Garrett County’s population of only 28,000! Kent County is also similar to Garrett County, as it’s very rural with some tourism, associated with the Chesapeake Bay. GaCo is hopeful that with similar demographics, the Kent County team can gain much support and make an even greater impact on its schools and community than GaCo has made with the generous support it has enjoyed here in Garrett County.
In the picture are Kent County High School Engineering and Computer Science Teacher Mr. Tim Kelleman; GaCo Southern Garrett senior, Kelsey Brown; Northern Garrett seniors, Jessica Simmons, Eden Rankin, and Emma Bernshon; along with Mrs. Kris Hemstetter, Principal of Kent County High School.
GaCo’s day-long trip to Kent County occurred on Wednesday, September 23, taking advantage of Garrett County’s half-day of school and Kent County’s Parent Back to School Night.
