North Central Missouri College sent three outstanding teams to compete in the Robotics Automation Technology contest held at State Technical Community College in Linn, Missouri. The competition brought together top-tier talent and showcased exceptional skill in robotics and automation.

During the contest, students were challenged to design and implement a small factory robotic process capable of sorting materials, including metal and plastic, into good and bad categories. The process involved palletizing the sorted parts, testing them for drilled holes, and ensuring seamless robot-driven automation. Teams had just two hours to complete this process before advancing to the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Station, where they programmed PLCs and were judged on the efficiency and timing of their processes.

North Central Missouri College’s SkillsUSA team ranked Gold, Silver, and Bronze and qualified for the National Robotics Automation Contest later this year in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 23-27.

Achievements:

  • Gold Medal Team: Josie Sigars and Connor Hershley
  • Silver Medal Team: Lucas Berning and Nathan Cook
  • Bronze Medal Team: Gauge Dotson and Bentley Wright

Instructor Rick Sharp commented: “The student programming and robotic integration were outstanding. I could not be happier with their performance at the State Competition. We are thrilled to qualify for the National Robotics Automation Contest.”

Dr. Lenny Klaver, President, said, “I would like to extend congratulations to Rick Sharp and our SkillsUSA team for their remarkable dedication, ingenuity, and teamwork. These achievements underline NCMC’s commitment to fostering excellence in robotics, automation, and industrial technology.”

For more information about SkillsUSA or robotic courses at North Central Missouri College, visit www.ncmissouri.edu or contact Instructor Rick Sharp at the Savannah Campus at (816) 324-8061.

Photo (L to R):  Instructor Rick Sharp, Gold Medalist Team: Josie Sigars, Connor Hershley, Silver Medalist Team: Lucas Berning and Nathan Cook, Bronze Medalist Team: Gauge Dotson and Bentley Wright