​Kinetic Knights Robotics Team hosts dinner, thanking sponsors, supporters

About 50 sponsors, supporters, mentors and members of the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team (FRC Team 781) of Kincardine gathered at the Kincardine Legion, Wednesday evening, June 5, for a dinner to celebrate the 2023-24 season.

Among the major sponsors present, were Usman Bhatti and Nicole Dakin of Enbridge; Jim and Bev McDonald of the Kincardine Legion; Mike and Natalie McKechnie of McKechnie Pharmacy; Christina Sagos, Mena Morcos and Dexter Van Vlaanderen of Worley; and Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig.

Following the delicious meal, Team 781 captain Nathan Pollock and administration lead Carter Frook gave a presentation about the past season.

Team 781 attended the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Ontario District events in Oshawa and North Bay, and the Ontario championships in Mississauga, winning a Robot Creativity award at Oshawa and the Sustainability Award at Ontario champs.

Nathan said this year’s robot was the best ever for Team 781, thanks to the investment in Swerve Drive, allowing better speed and maneuverability.

“Thank you to all our mentors and sponsors for donating your time and money to our program this year,” he said. “With the new encoders and swerve drive, we were able to compete at a higher level with great success.”

Lead mentor David Dadson also thanked everyone for attending.

He noted the thank-you dinner had two purposes: to thank the sponsors for their generous support, the parents and team members for participating, and the mentors for volunteering their knowledge and expertise to the program; and it was an opportunity for the team members to meet with their sponsors and discuss this year’s robot.

The team is seeking more mentors, particularly for the build season, as well as parents and volunteers to help out with outreach events during the off-season. For more information, contact lead mentor David Dadson at dcdadson@live.com and check the website at www.kineticknights.org.

The evening ended with a demonstration of this year’s competition robot.