{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/uhs-robotics-team-gets-a-visit-from-sen-jeff-merkley", "UHS robotics team gets a visit from Sen. Jeff Merkley", "2014-11-04", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "UHS robotics team gets a visit from Sen. Jeff Merkley \r\n\r\n     Senator Jeff Merkley visited Umatilla High School Sunday afternoon to get a look at the school's robotics team. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, November 4, 2014\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    Maegan Murray\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUmatilla High School wasn\u2019t originally a stop on his 50-town tour in the state of Oregon, but when U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley was invited by Umatilla Superintendent Heidi Sipe to see the UHS robotics program, he couldn\u2019t pass up the opportunity.\r\nOn Sunday, Merkley ventured out to UHS to chat a bit with the students of the UHS robotics team \u201cConfidential\u201d about their program and the success they have enjoyed since starting up three years ago. During his visit, Merkley and the team members, ranging from freshmen to seasoned veteran seniors, talked about everything from how they all got interested in robotics to the basics of building and driving a robot.\r\nSenior Anabel Moreno said she has been participating in the group since it was started three years ago and has seen for herself how the group has grown.\r\n\u201cWe have improved significantly since then,\u201d she told the senator.\r\nJunior Antonio Moreno walked Merkley through the stages of how they built their robot and the basics that go into designing the electrical system and how to drive it.\r\n\u201cWe have to build the robot in six weeks,\u201d he told Merkley.\r\nAs part of last year\u2019s challenge, Moreno told Merkley the team had to construct a robot able to shoot a 2-foot ball through goal areas both on and above the ground. During his visit, Merkley got to drive the robot and launched the ball into the air by himself.\r\n\u201cOh, hey, that\u2019s slick,\u201d he said after driving the robot for the first time. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d\r\nAfter discussing the basics of robotics, Merkley then talked with the students about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and how he is trying to provide more opportunities for students in rural areas.\r\nHe said STEM opportunities are key for students as those are the skills that will be required for the jobs of today and tomorrow.\r\n\u201cWhen I talk about what it takes for us to be the leaders of today \u2026 a lot of that is high technology,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis is great preparation and team building for that. I totally applaud it.\u201d\r\nMerkley said he was pleased to visit UHS to get a look at the program and was even more pleased the UHS team has spurred the beginnings of other robotics programs at districts throughout the county.\r\n\u201cThis is a huge victory for our area,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a need for a lot more students that have these high-tech skills \u2026 It\u2019s a superb program. Plus, it\u2019s just a lot of fun. It puts smiles on a lot of people\u2019s faces.\u201d\r\nSipe said Merkley and his staff have always been supportive of the robotics program and the promotion of STEM education in rural communities.\r\nSipe said Merkley\u2019s staff connected organizers with Deb Mumm-Hill, who helped the high school identify the NASA and the State of Oregon grants, which it received to fund the program the first year. The team has since qualified and competed at the world championships for the last two years.\r\n\u201cYou really do work hard to help kids in rural areas,\u201d Sipe said to Merkley. \u201cHe has been a really great support for the team. We appreciate the time he is able to give.\u201d\r\nBoth UHS robotics coaches, Kyle Sipe and John Fisher, agreed. Fisher said Merkley has shown the team a level of support that he feels is not normal for a senator.\r\n\u201cThe opportunities that Sen. Merkley have opened for us have been incredible,\u201d Kyle Sipe said. \u201cNow, there is no excuse for these kids not to excel. He has empowered these kids to embrace the opportunities and get things done.\u201d\r\nThe students were equally thrilled to have the opportunity to show Merkley what they know and do on a daily basis.\r\n\u201cIt is amazing that we are getting this kind of recognition in a small town like Umatilla,\u201d Anabel Moreno said. \u201cI can\u2019t even process it.\u201d\r\nSophomore Rebekah Potts agreed.\r\n\u201cThree years ago, we wouldn\u2019t be thinking we would be talking to a senator,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s cool to see, how word is getting out and how it is expanding.\u201d\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/uhs-robotics-team-gets-a-visit-from-sen-jeff-merkley"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.783846877515316, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}