Contact: Madeline Brockley
262-522-2243 or mbrockley@fisherbartongroup.com
The Fisher Barton Group donates a multipurpose robot to the technology and engineering department at Watertown High School
Watertown, Wis. (September 27, 2013) – Students and faculty at Watertown High School celebrated the newest addition to their technology and engineering classroom Thursday, September 26, 2013 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the high school: an ABB IRB120 high-speed robot donated by the Fisher Barton Group (Fisher Barton). The company made the donation in an effort to aid Science, Technology, Education, & Math (STEM) education practices, increase students’ exposure to robotics, and offer continued support to the community in which it was founded 40 years ago.
“In a meeting with the Watertown Economic Development Organization (WEDO) and the Watertown Unified School District (WUSD), we identified a gap in exposure to robotics at the middle and high school levels,” noted Mark Lessner, VP of manufacturing at Fisher Barton Blades. “We wanted to donate the robot in hopes that it would generate excitement in the students as they gain exposure to the fields of robotics and manufacturing.”
Students enrolled in a technology and engineering class at Watertown High School will have the opportunity to use the 60×60 inch, compact, multipurpose industrial robot. The robot will be integrated into the curriculum as a training tool, allowing students to learn programming techniques and gain an understanding of its mechanics. The ABB IRB120 is mounted on a table with a template pattern for the development of several different material applications and programming capabilities.
“The ABB robot is an invaluable addition to our classroom, giving students educational opportunities that were not previously available at WHS,” said Jesse Domer, Watertown High School teacher of technology and engineering. “My hope is that the students will become comfortable with the technology and start independently creating their own programs.”
Domer, a valued faculty member at WUSD since 2006, was the 2013 recipient of the Wisconsin Technology Education Association’s Teacher of the Year award. Additionally, he led the winning team of students in the SkillsUSA competition last year. His technology and engineering classes teach students about manufacturing, drafting, and engine design and development.
Faculty at WUSD plan to grow and strengthen the engineering and manufacturing programs in Watertown through an initiative called Vision2020. Vision2020 is a collaborative effort between WUSD, industry partnerships and community organizations. It’s through connections like these that the robot donation was made possible.
For additional information on the robot or the technology and engineering programs at Watertown High School, please contact Jesse Domer.
