Alumni Giving Back: Josh VanDeest Prepares Robotics Team for Success

Sometimes the best teachers are those who've recently walked in their students' shoes. That's exactly what's happening in Lutheran High School's Make Lab this summer, where 2024 graduate Josh VanDeest is leading a specialized robotics course designed to give our current team members a competitive edge before the new season begins.

Just over a year after receiving his diploma from LHS, Josh has returned to Lutheran's halls after a year of mechanical engineering studies at LeTourneau University. His Tuesday and Thursday sessions, running from 10am to 12pm, aren't just about keeping students busy during summer break—they're about building a foundation of advanced robotics principles that will serve the team well when competition season arrives.

"While most of you already have experience and knowledge in robotics, I want to expand and add to it," Josh explained to the team members. His curriculum covers essential topics including basic build principles, lift designs, chassis structure, intake design, and gear ratios—all critical elements for competitive robotics success.

With the official FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) game reveal not scheduled until September 6th, Josh took initiative to create an engaging challenge that would keep students' skills sharp during the summer months. Drawing from his own competitive experience, he developed a custom game using elements from a past VEX competition he participated in as a student.

The challenge centers around scoring hollow plastic balls—6.3 inches in diameter from the VEX game "Change Up"—into designated bins. While it sounds simple, Josh has incorporated strategic restrictions that mirror real competition conditions: robots can only carry one ball at a time, and teams must work within specific size limits, motor counts, and additional build requirements.

The program's structure encourages both collaboration and healthy competition. With enough participants, Josh plans to divide students into two teams, each designing and building their own unique robot for the challenge. The culmination will be a mini-tournament to determine which team's design and strategy proves most effective.

Not content to simply observe from the sidelines, Josh has built his own fully functional robot according to the rules he established—investing about eight hours in the project. "I didn't want to miss out on the fun," he noted, and his robot will compete directly against the student teams, providing an additional benchmark for their designs.

The summer program is already showing tangible results. Students are actively disassembling previous robots to harvest parts for new builds, including completely taking apart the girls' varsity robot to maximize available components. This hands-on approach to resource management mirrors the reality of competitive robotics, where teams must often work with limited materials and budgets.

This summer initiative represents more than just technical preparation—it's a testament to the lasting impact of Lutheran High School's program and the character of its graduates. Josh's willingness to return and invest in current students demonstrates the kind of leadership and service that the school's robotics program aims to develop.

As the team prepares for the upcoming FTC season, they're doing so with enhanced skills, practical experience, and the guidance of someone who understands both the challenges they face and the strategies needed to overcome them. When September 6th arrives and the new game is revealed, Lutheran's robotics team will be ready to hit the ground running—thanks in large part to one alumnus who chose to give back to the program that helped shape his own path.

Students interested in joining the summer robotics course can attend sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am in the Make Lab. For more information about Lutheran High School's robotics program, contact Head of School Andrew Eickstead at [email protected]