Special Release to Brownwood News – Four Howard Payne University engineering science majors recently served as judges for a robotics contest at Early Middle School.

Tami Hull, EMS robotics coach, invited the group to judge the competition among fourth- through eighth-grade students. The participants competed using LEGO Mindstorms robots.

HPU students serving as judges were Justin Christopher Hughes, freshman from Llano; Reid Dillion Longabaugh, sophomore from Early; Paden Joe Seidel, freshman from Proctor; and Clara Octani Tarigan, junior from Brownwood.

“It was fun to watch the young, bright elementary and middle school students take part in such a competition and to see our students involved in the community,” said Dr. Hendra Tarigan, director of the engineering science program at HPU. “I thank Mrs. Hull for introducing our four students to the audience consisting of approximately 50 parents that evening; Dr. Gerry Clarkson, chair of HPU’s Department of Physical Sciences, for connecting HPU with Mrs. Hull; and Dr. Pamela Bryant, dean of HPU’s School of Science and Math, for her full support.”

Based on their performances as judges, the HPU students have been invited by the TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) Area 15 director to serve as judges at the TCEA Area 15 Robotics Contest in Ballinger on January 21, 2017.