As one of two community colleges competing in the 2018 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) earned 9th place in the college division April 13-14 in Huntsville, Alabama. The OCTC Rover Team completed a round of the challenging course in 6:43, under the 7-minute barrier. OCTC also had the second fastest “assembly” time, the time taken for the drivers to enter and secure themselves into their Rover. Traditionally, a team would complete their first round, make adjustments and return for the second day of the competition. Threatening weather for day two caused race officials to cancel the second round of the competition.
Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC President added, “We could not be prouder of the team and all they have accomplished. It is a true testament to the entire group, including the faculty and staff, that they achieved such a high level of success.”
This year’s project was funded through a grant from NASA Kentucky in the amount of $10,000 to help support OCTC’s participation in the 2018 competition. OCTC Faculty and Rover Team lead Shawn Payne submitted the grant and led the team through the project.
He credits the teamwork among the student and faculty across many disciplines for their continued success. “We couldn’t have made it without the help from Computerized Manufacturing & Machining (CMM) and Industrial Maintenance Technology (IMT) faculty and students” added Payne.
This year’s OCTC Rover Team Committee included Payne, Randy Crowe-OCTC CMM Faculty, Danny Moseley-OCTC CMM Faculty, Dr. Meredith Skaggs-OCTC Communications Faculty, and Mary Kinney-OCTC’s Retention Coordinator and Adjunct Psychology Faculty.
The OCTC Rover Team students include: Gage Camron, Elijah Christian, Nick Clouse, Steven Dulsky, Sam Ebelhar, Isaac Fuqua, Katrina Gamble, Jeremy Hamilton, Heather Harris, Sky Jarboe, Elizabeth Krampe, Luke Ramsey, Christy Taylor, and Courtney Wright.
