In Brief: September 18

Volunteers needed for Falcon BEST robotics competition

Volunteers are needed when BGSU hosts the second annual Falcon BEST Robotics Competition this fall. Currently 16 area middle and high school teams are registered to participate.

Dr. Wayne Unsell, construction management and director of the Falcon BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Hub, said the committee is looking for 70-80 volunteers to help with the robotics events on two separate days.

“We are looking for faculty, staff and students; clubs or organizations from the University or community, and area professionals and retirees to volunteer for the Falcon BEST robotics event that invites middle and high school teams to compete,” Unsell said. “The need for volunteers is significant because of the phenomenal response we’ve had from the schools.”

Volunteers do not need to have experience in robotics or technology, only an interest in being part of the event that encourages students to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Unsell explained. In addition to the robotics component, the competition also involves students who are interested in marketing the robot company created by the teams, and team spirit.

The first event is the Kickoff Day on Sept. 27, when this year’s robotics competition game – Bladerunner – is revealed to the teams. Volunteers are needed between 1:45 and 3:30 p.m. in 101 Olscamp Hall to help check in teams and provide them with their robotics materials. Sign up to volunteer for Kickoff Day.

For the Falcon BEST Robotics Competition Day, scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Stroh Center, many volunteers are needed to help throughout the day. Volunteers may serve as greeters, registrars, judges (for the robot contests and marketing competition), referees, runners, crowd control, setup and tear-down. Signup for the main competition will be posted closer to the event

Contact Sherri Orwick Ogden at falconbest@bgsu.edu regarding Falcon BEST volunteer opportunities.


BGSU Firelands to present 24-hour theater festival

Experience theater at its most chaotic and unpredictable with the BGSU Firelands College Theater production of “All in a Day's Work: The Second Annual 24-Hour Theater Festival.”

A series of short performances which are completely written, rehearsed and performed within a 24-hour period will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 20).

Playwrights are provided three similarly themed elements and they each have 12 hours to write one, 10-15 minute play. Directors randomly select the plays, and actors are also randomly assigned to each performance.

By curtain time on Saturday evening, the plays are staged, props and costumes are gathered, lines are memorized, and the show goes on. Participants are BGSU Firelands students, faculty and staff, as well as community members.

“The organized chaos provides for very entertaining moments,” said Firelands College Theater Director Gretchen Wingerter, who developed the 24-Hour Theater program at the college. “It’s a great experience for students to understand the sometimes-rushed nature of actual theater productions and it’s truly original theater where anything can, and probably will, happen.”

The production of 24-Hour Theater will be performed at the BGSU Firelands McBride Auditorium, 1 University Drive, Huron. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. For additional information, contact Wingerter at 419-372-0868.

Updated: 12/02/2017 12:52AM