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March 21, 2023

Huntley High School's Project Lead the Way visited an airplane hangar's operation at O'Hare International Airport.
Steve Peterson
Huntley High School’s Project Lead the Way visited an airplane hangar’s operation at O’Hare International Airport.

Features • March 21, 2023

PLTW, robotics grow interest in engineering

By

HUNTLEY — Huntley High School students have opportunities to expand their college and career readiness framework in several areas, all approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. One of these is Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which is part of the HHS Engineering Academy.

Students in a PLTW class had a chance to view engineering in action, while visiting an airplane hangar’s operation at O’Hare International Airport.

“Danato Giuseffe, an HHS parent, is an American Airlines employee in Tech Ops and manages the hangars for AA at O’Hare,” PLTW instructor Amanda Henk explained. “He connected with me several years ago about bringing our PLTW Aerospace Engineering students on a trip to tour the hand hangars, meet with the maintenance technicians, and talk about careers in aviation. We did have to get security clearance from the FAA and the City of Chicago to enter the restricted areas of the hangars. Students enjoyed the trip tremendously. We have at least one senior committed to Rock Valley College for their aviation, flight, and-or aviation management as a result.”

Henk said the PLTW courses are designed to introduce the fundamentals of engineering to students. The courses in the first through third years help students earn college credit, through the College and Career Pathway Endorsement program.

The PLTW classes are: Introduction to Engineering Design (first year); PLTW Principles of Engineering (second year); PLTW Aerospace Engineering; PLTW Digital Electronics; PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture, third year and PLTW Engineering Design and Development, part of the Senior Capstone program.

Robotics a success

HHS has also had a successful year in VEX Robotics, which is an international competition, not IHSA led. It is organized by the Robotics Education Foundation. There are about 15 students in the competition program and 40 more in the inter-mural program.

“We have three competition teams at HHS,” Henk said. “One of our competition teams qualified for state, at Millikin University, March 10-11. They placed 27th in the field of 56. This was their first year as a team, so we are very proud of that accomplishment. Students use the engineering design process to design, build and code their robots to play a game for the season, this year it is called Spin It Up. Our competition teams are open to all students in grades nine through 12. Sometimes our seniors take the lead, but often underclassmen step up to lead the teams. Students must be familiar with the engineering design process, comfortable assembling with basic tools, coding both autonomous and driving programs for the robot.”